Re: could you be a brain in a vat?

["David Saitch" <philosophy@saitch.net>]

To reply to this message or start a new topic please email: BUPS-DIS@bups.org



Oh my giddy aunt!

Well, obviously I agree that Putnam failed to prove the case.

(Interestigly I have been asked to present a revised version of my paper at a
Birkbeck conference next month)

He fails to close a logical loop and all he really shows is that the brain in
the vat couldn't know it was a brain in a vat. So he's rather foolishly given
the sceptic some ammo.

As to whether we could be, well, I don't think so, but sadly I can't prove it
yet.




Edward Grefenstette <pha04eg@sheffield.ac.uk> wrote:

> To reply to this message or start a new topic please email:
BUPS-DIS@bups.org
> 
> 
> I found their argumentation to hold more water than the vats Putnam  
> dreams of, to use David's imagery. However while I find Hillary  
> Putnam's position is, as it is, hard to defend. The question of 'to  
> what extent it is wrong' is what is philosophically interesting, in  
> my opinion. Perhaps that's what we should be putting up for debate?
> 
> -- Edward.
> 
> On 12 Oct 2005, at 12/10/200515:40, Alice Evans wrote:
> 
> > ** For Your Eyes Only **
> >
> > yes, that was their conclusion.
> > i was wondering if anyone dissented from that opinion, both method  
> > and final product
> >
> >
> >
> > This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an  
> > attachment
> > may still contain software viruses, which could damage your  
> > computer system:
> > you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications  
> > with the
> > University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK  
> > legislation.
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> Browse or search the BUPS-DIS archives, or unsubscribe from the mailing list
> at: http://www.bups.org/mailinglist.htm
> 





Browse or search the BUPS-DIS archives, or unsubscribe from the mailing list at: http://www.bups.org/mailinglist.htm