@Dfox222 I think what you're suggesting is sort of like the contrapositive: if I'm not thinking, than I am not. What do philosophers say to that obviously false statement? (I know nothing about philosophy).
footenote:...........if one looks at paintings of great philosophers of Europe, the fashions they wore ,(especially 17th century style!), were very sharp!........Then, for some inexplicable reason, around 1900' the dull grey suit took over the intelligentia! and for all this time no one as sharp as Voltaire and Blaise Pascal has ever stood at a podium giving a lecture!
There is a book of transcripts of these conversations, with the same name as the TV series. It would be best to quote the book (with page number, etc.) in a paper.
A direct transcript of this interview can be found here in google ebooks. For some reason i'm unable to post a direct link.
Go to Google Books and search "Philosophy: basic readings By Nigel Warburton". It'll be the first book you want with exactly that title - jump to page 298.
i don't get why people condemn debates on Youtube comments section, calling it pointless. of the people who bother to write a comment below are some highly educated people i bet. there are things to learn from what they have to say, and picking debate as often as possible, i think, makes a person better in debating overall.
although he may have found ultimate trUth from within his sense observation, the reAlity of this truth of trUth's origin goes back further than him....
What make you say this? Well, I cannot argue with you if you say Descartes seem silly for his quote "I think therefore I am". If you ask someone to write an essay on this quote alone they will struggle. For 3 years I could not understand much of this and most people thought it was a joke. At least it make you think about things.
@MrDavies90 Actually, I find Kant pretty clear: he constantly defines the concepts he uses, and constantly repeats his definitions... However, you're right for the other ones, especially, Hegel, as you said, and Heidegger (that guy's writings are aweful!)
@carmentartalo Transcripts of his television series " The Great Philosophers" are available in published form in the book “The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy” (Oxford University Press, 2001). See DESCARTES page 76.
You may be interested also in to take a look at: “Talking Philosophy: Dialogues with Fifteen Leading Philosophers” (Oxford University Press, 2001). This book is the transcript of Bryan Magee's BBC Television series "Men of Ideas".
"there could never be any knowledge at all....everything was up for grabs" 04:12- 04:20 ...I'm curious as to how this notion could exist...what he means by this...that there was no knowledge at all...what does he mean by this...could somebody explain I would be so greatful
He's referring to the philosophy of Skepticism, which, differing from a healthy sense of doubt (today's meaning), held in large part that certain significant points of perceived "reality" were tricks of the senses or were other artifacts caused by sensory mediation. Descartes did not hand this out as pillar of his own philosophy, though doubting the existence of something *until it can be shown to exist beyond any doubt* was a central pillar. He basically took skepticism and gave it reason.
In other words it's the notion that since we can't know what's really out there - going off of the knowledge that they had back then- then there really can't be any official knowledge? There can't be any knowledge because of sensory mediation, that knowledge could only be based off of the mediated version of the actual, and since it is mediated that it cannot be "knowledge" because it's unofficial?
Yeah, that's pretty much it. Naturally, this is a terribly simplified discussion; there are a lot of nuances to it, but the gist is there. It's a persistent philosophy, going since ancient Greece (Pyrrho and the boys). Skepticism is also the punchline of what many think is the joke of philosophy. Descartes was not skeptical like that, though. He wanted to make sure that, after the universe was doubted out of existence, that he could *reason* it back into place properly.
Okay. So when he's coming back around against all the doubt with reason, wouldn't the nihilists assert "it's pointless, he'll never know the truth, his reasoning cannot be based upon anything because there is no truth that we can ever know, so what's the point of trying?"
Oh yes, there was a lot of that. There will always be adherent to various philosophies who resist new ideas (it happens all the time). But, over time, the majority began to see the triumph of reason and rationality that Descartes provided. Mind you, being in the majority doesn't make one right, but, in this case, the arguments were so sound that it caused a revolution in how we view the world.
Far too many people misunderstand DesCartes, and it's all because of that one famous quote that barely even scratches the surface of what he wrote on.
Can anyone tell me how Descartes justifies "I think therefore I am"? Are there multiple reasons, or is it simply that once you think you must exist and you cannot doubt your existence?
Its similar to your second statement. Descartes says that he can doubt all things execpt for his own mind, because doubt entials a doubter. Now, to go from his mind to anything else, thats the problem for Descartes.
for me professor williams is the quintessence of the true professor who has a brilliant academic achievement but in a way turns full circle and is also a 'real' person - i absolutely love the man
10 minutes into this conversation on the historical background to Descartes, and the scientific background in particular, and neither man has mentioned the name of either Galileo or Copernicus. Dude!
I find it funny yet cool how he tries to set a scene where he is constantly tricked by entities and tries to think his way out of this supposed scenario. Cogito ergo sum.
some people go to college, its because we don't want to be so ghetto we're getting on the internet dissing smart people for twelve hours and working at mcdonalds the other twelve.
@Tannerthomas Dissing smart people can be what makes progress. Smart people can be as wrong as everyone else. Bernard Williams was a smart guy but he wasn't perfect. He earned the reputation of being a mannerless cunt who couldn't accept disagreement with his views without dismissing those who disagreed with him as stupid. That's intellectual laziness
@Tannerthomas Yeah.....how smart r u? .....I DIDN'T go to college, but I only spend 8 hrs dissing smart people on the Internet, and McDonald's wouldn't give me 12 hrs of work in a whole damn week! So I bought 3 of 'em, and only hire college grads. with worthless diplomas, i.e. english lit, liberal arts, and philosophy. haha
Finally! I've been eagerly expecting this upload. Thank you very much, Descartes is one of my favorites, and this video is a stupendous introduction to this great thinker.
I think that Bertrand Russell best summarized Descartes's proof of God's existence: "No God implies no mathematics. But mathematics is delicious. Therefore, God exists."
Give her the dick
halosmallmac 1 day ago
brian you are showing your british bias, hume was your man.
greggcaff 4 days ago
Couldn't one say "I am, therefore I think," and make just as much sense?
Dfox222 3 weeks ago
@Dfox222 I think what you're suggesting is sort of like the contrapositive: if I'm not thinking, than I am not. What do philosophers say to that obviously false statement? (I know nothing about philosophy).
ashburnhouse 2 weeks ago
@Dfox222 you cou but then you would still have to prove you exist.
bodhidharma78 1 week ago
footenote:...........if one looks at paintings of great philosophers of Europe, the fashions they wore ,(especially 17th century style!), were very sharp!........Then, for some inexplicable reason, around 1900' the dull grey suit took over the intelligentia! and for all this time no one as sharp as Voltaire and Blaise Pascal has ever stood at a podium giving a lecture!
acerb45666555 1 month ago
love the video really good
TheSpikeystuff 1 month ago
Very enjoyable thank you
TheSpikeystuff 1 month ago
some sweet info here
clairebehun 1 month ago
some sweet info here
jessyjessy4 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This is a great video
staranjela 1 month ago
Thanks for uploading this series. I've found it to be a helpful introduction to various philosophers.
CommunistWarrior1917 2 months ago
There is a book of transcripts of these conversations, with the same name as the TV series. It would be best to quote the book (with page number, etc.) in a paper.
Intro2Philosophy 3 months ago in playlist Descartes
hello! i want to quote this in a paper
do you know what show this is? the director producer, year it was aired, etc? any info would be greatly appreciated!
sweetseeds17 4 months ago
@sweetseeds17 Look at the comment above you
ShudderProductions 1 month ago
Rest in peace Sir Bernard Williams.
ge77inhigh 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
A direct transcript of this interview can be found here in google ebooks. For some reason i'm unable to post a direct link.
Go to Google Books and search "Philosophy: basic readings By Nigel Warburton". It'll be the first book you want with exactly that title - jump to page 298.
Enjoy :)
Discogod 5 months ago
Why the F is this Vid conneted to Super Obama girl?
Raysyedrocks 7 months ago
Thank you for sharing this. Helpful for my studies.
Iillyjay 1 year ago
Do you think Magee's glasses ever set things on fire accidentally? You know, when he goes outside....Maybe he's a secret follower of Pyrrho....
proffromgview 1 year ago 3
i don't get why people condemn debates on Youtube comments section, calling it pointless. of the people who bother to write a comment below are some highly educated people i bet. there are things to learn from what they have to say, and picking debate as often as possible, i think, makes a person better in debating overall.
pakk82 1 year ago 2
epic intro music
MrDeezed 1 year ago 2
It's really hard to make out William's sentences - am I going deaf?
3baile35 1 year ago
Décartes entre dans un Starbucks et commende un café au lait.
Le serveur lui demande s'il veut du chocolat râpé sur le café.
Décartes lui dit: «Je ne pense pas » et en un éclair, il disparaît.
auggiedoggy 1 year ago
although he may have found ultimate trUth from within his sense observation, the reAlity of this truth of trUth's origin goes back further than him....
rsronetube16 1 year ago
Descartes was a beast, but not as beastly as Aristotle.
jimbopumbapigsticks 1 year ago
@jimbopumbapigsticks
What make you say this? Well, I cannot argue with you if you say Descartes seem silly for his quote "I think therefore I am". If you ask someone to write an essay on this quote alone they will struggle. For 3 years I could not understand much of this and most people thought it was a joke. At least it make you think about things.
TheConfessor2011 1 year ago
The clarity of their discussion really shows English culture at its best.
English philosophers maintain this incredible clarity.
scotty123123 1 year ago 8
@scotty123123
hahah so true. German philosphers are the worst at clarity even if you read it in old german/German/Latin. Kant and Hegel anyone?
MrDavies90 1 year ago
@MrDavies90 Heidegger's quite easy to follow in German... I'd say...
samirathesmall 1 year ago
@MrDavies90
I agree with you to a certain extent. Kant is tolerable, Hegel no thank you.
TheConfessor2011 1 year ago
@MrDavies90 Actually, I find Kant pretty clear: he constantly defines the concepts he uses, and constantly repeats his definitions... However, you're right for the other ones, especially, Hegel, as you said, and Heidegger (that guy's writings are aweful!)
Outridelove 2 months ago
I"´ll need traslate this interesting video to spanish lenguage(subtitle)because I´m a from Spain, and I¨m a philosophy teacher in Madrid.
My english is very bad and I wouldlike to use it in my class. Thanks
carmentartalo 1 year ago
@carmentartalo Transcripts of his television series " The Great Philosophers" are available in published form in the book “The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy” (Oxford University Press, 2001). See DESCARTES page 76.
You may be interested also in to take a look at: “Talking Philosophy: Dialogues with Fifteen Leading Philosophers” (Oxford University Press, 2001). This book is the transcript of Bryan Magee's BBC Television series "Men of Ideas".
German1184 1 year ago 3
I heard that he voted for the health care bill.
prsturm 1 year ago
i heard that he died of a "brain fever and refused to be bled" in the mark steel lecture about him.
goblinmaje 2 years ago
"there could never be any knowledge at all....everything was up for grabs" 04:12- 04:20 ...I'm curious as to how this notion could exist...what he means by this...that there was no knowledge at all...what does he mean by this...could somebody explain I would be so greatful
mach1man22 2 years ago
He's referring to the philosophy of Skepticism, which, differing from a healthy sense of doubt (today's meaning), held in large part that certain significant points of perceived "reality" were tricks of the senses or were other artifacts caused by sensory mediation. Descartes did not hand this out as pillar of his own philosophy, though doubting the existence of something *until it can be shown to exist beyond any doubt* was a central pillar. He basically took skepticism and gave it reason.
fadibitz 2 years ago
In other words it's the notion that since we can't know what's really out there - going off of the knowledge that they had back then- then there really can't be any official knowledge? There can't be any knowledge because of sensory mediation, that knowledge could only be based off of the mediated version of the actual, and since it is mediated that it cannot be "knowledge" because it's unofficial?
mach1man22 2 years ago
Yeah, that's pretty much it. Naturally, this is a terribly simplified discussion; there are a lot of nuances to it, but the gist is there. It's a persistent philosophy, going since ancient Greece (Pyrrho and the boys). Skepticism is also the punchline of what many think is the joke of philosophy. Descartes was not skeptical like that, though. He wanted to make sure that, after the universe was doubted out of existence, that he could *reason* it back into place properly.
fadibitz 2 years ago
Okay. So when he's coming back around against all the doubt with reason, wouldn't the nihilists assert "it's pointless, he'll never know the truth, his reasoning cannot be based upon anything because there is no truth that we can ever know, so what's the point of trying?"
mach1man22 2 years ago
Oh yes, there was a lot of that. There will always be adherent to various philosophies who resist new ideas (it happens all the time). But, over time, the majority began to see the triumph of reason and rationality that Descartes provided. Mind you, being in the majority doesn't make one right, but, in this case, the arguments were so sound that it caused a revolution in how we view the world.
fadibitz 2 years ago
Far too many people misunderstand DesCartes, and it's all because of that one famous quote that barely even scratches the surface of what he wrote on.
versus79 2 years ago
Can anyone tell me how Descartes justifies "I think therefore I am"? Are there multiple reasons, or is it simply that once you think you must exist and you cannot doubt your existence?
freethinkerdangerous 2 years ago
Its similar to your second statement. Descartes says that he can doubt all things execpt for his own mind, because doubt entials a doubter. Now, to go from his mind to anything else, thats the problem for Descartes.
Bassmaster86 2 years ago
*entails
Bassmaster86 2 years ago
for me professor williams is the quintessence of the true professor who has a brilliant academic achievement but in a way turns full circle and is also a 'real' person - i absolutely love the man
chrish12345 2 years ago
10 minutes into this conversation on the historical background to Descartes, and the scientific background in particular, and neither man has mentioned the name of either Galileo or Copernicus. Dude!
oifqwoighoaivoiweg0q 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
was Descartes a womanizer? why did he say " I think therefore i get a boner"???
chaniwie 2 years ago
lmao ur silly man
philosoisgrt 2 years ago
yeah he did say that... I remember... They changed it to try to cover it up... it's all a conspiracy
UseF007 2 years ago
I like Rene Descartes' thinking
I find it funny yet cool how he tries to set a scene where he is constantly tricked by entities and tries to think his way out of this supposed scenario. Cogito ergo sum.
LingEntityNoobi 3 years ago
The presumption of mechanical regularity between sense and 'self' is a less complicated assumption, though. Parsimony and whatnot.
Descartes gets to dualism by missing the obvious problems that his own - untenable - formulation of 'doubt' gives.
LiberalVichy 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
whoever watches this alone, at home, in full, should slit their wrists.
djthehomeslice 3 years ago
are you mailing me the knife?
Nosiluminadimenso 3 years ago 11
LOL
djthehomeslice 3 years ago
why, you moron?
mankato86 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Cuz who the fuck would watch this shit? you the moron if your entertained by fuckin philosophy.
djthehomeslice 3 years ago
some people go to college, its because we don't want to be so ghetto we're getting on the internet dissing smart people for twelve hours and working at mcdonalds the other twelve.
Tannerthomas 3 years ago 27
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Im in Introduction to Lecture Philosophy bud.
djthehomeslice 2 years ago
hahahahahha nice!! cheers mate
yellehsmada 2 years ago
@Tannerthomas Dissing smart people can be what makes progress. Smart people can be as wrong as everyone else. Bernard Williams was a smart guy but he wasn't perfect. He earned the reputation of being a mannerless cunt who couldn't accept disagreement with his views without dismissing those who disagreed with him as stupid. That's intellectual laziness
jkirk1626 1 year ago 3
@Tannerthomas Yeah.....how smart r u? .....I DIDN'T go to college, but I only spend 8 hrs dissing smart people on the Internet, and McDonald's wouldn't give me 12 hrs of work in a whole damn week! So I bought 3 of 'em, and only hire college grads. with worthless diplomas, i.e. english lit, liberal arts, and philosophy. haha
LV07TSK 10 months ago
ppl in a philosophy class maybe, what u must watch ppl fight on youtube huh
Godwill3 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
well nah but that at least is somewhat entertaining -.-
djthehomeslice 2 years ago
Wow. The year of this interview? Bernard Williams is a huge philosopher! Thanks for the upload, thanks and more thanks..
JurgenHabermas 3 years ago
Finally! I've been eagerly expecting this upload. Thank you very much, Descartes is one of my favorites, and this video is a stupendous introduction to this great thinker.
goPistons06 3 years ago
Been itching to see this one - awesome upload!
Formica45 3 years ago 2
I think that Bertrand Russell best summarized Descartes's proof of God's existence: "No God implies no mathematics. But mathematics is delicious. Therefore, God exists."
Merooba 3 years ago 4
Lol so god is tasty mmmmm i want some god now : )
philosoisgrt 3 years ago