Timothy Williamson on Truth and Certainty

[1a1a2s3d4f5g]

One person is an idiot. 

[CristoforColom]

Wich English accent does Timothy Williamson have? I believe that it isn't oxford accent. Someone knows?

[Pandy2k]

This is just awesome. Think I will have to send this to one of the teachers I had. I have had the exact same experience with this sort of BS philosophy and fierce arguments in class.

[sportsportsport]

I love how he grabs the mic! Dr. Dre and Snoop eat your heart out.

[todanes]

in the deep sense of clothes the emperor is wearing more clothes than anyone else

[Pandy2k]

@todanes They made me laugh :D

[GARIFIAN]

Williamson appears to be one of the most respected and quoted living analytic philosophers but notice his lack of social finesse (does not ever look at the interviewer), hesitancy, repetitiveness, labouredness, poverty and plainness of diction, common-sensicalness and above all an overwhelming failure to inspire and excite. It is clear he has no understanding of Derrida. I consider him to be pretty damaging to the cause of the improvement of the human predicament.

[stethoscanomaly]

@GARIFIAN you have every mark of the type of bullshit artist williams lampoons in this video. haha! you are truly a fool (or an astute sarcastic comic). You attack williamson based not on any disagreement with what he says, or the demonstration of any difficulty therein, but instead, based on character traits that you find unpleasant. You appeal to your authority, informing us stupid common folk that, williamson clearly lacks an understanding of derrida, while keeping your reasons for...

[stethoscanomaly]

@GARIFIAN (...reasons for)... thinking this, entirely secret (that is, if you have any which i doubt that you do). and worst of all, you have a disdain for common sense and the use of plain language!! haha this is really hilarious - you acctually appear to be in favor of the use of florid, worthlessly technical language, and the abandonment of common sense in the investigation of philosophical matters. guess what garfian, i know your postmodern buddies will scoff at the idea but...

[stethoscanomaly]

@GARIFIAN (...idea but)... just think about it for a second: the ability to explain and work with difficult philosophical problems by the use of plain, easily understood, language is a highly valuable skill and the mark of a good philosopher, not something to be derided. take some analytic philosophy classes, or just read something good (e.g. maybe some analytic epistemology journals) and maybe you'll come to see the laughable nature of the bullshit you've been taken in by.

[onthekantrary]

@GARIFIAN Are you stupid? It's like saying, "hey mathematician, you sure suck at riding bikes" or "hey physicist, you sure lack a working knowledge of Irish literature." Whether he's "inspiring" is absolutely fucking irrelevant to whether he's a good philosopher or speaking the truth. The ability to inspire and excite just shows you can put on a pretty light show for slack jawed continental idiots. You couldn't hack it in symbolic logic and now you play philosopher like all continentals.

[patrickm433]

Great, but I don't see why he allows the notion of certainty to be slimed. Where the number of spiders in the room is concerned, even before you start counting you can be certain, without being 'dogmatic', that that number is going to be odd or even. Similarly, when the room is thoroughly searced and the spiders counted, one can then be certain, without being some sort of fascist, that there were x number of spiders in the room.

Raffen79: 'Bullshit'?I once heard him say 'Fuck'.!

[Elenkhos]

I feel same frustration with atheists who claim that babies are atheist because they have no concept of god... utter nonsense.

[CultOfByron]

@Elenkhos - by Concept of god do you mean an intuitive pre-intellectual oneness with 'the world'? It's hard to say because no-one has a clear memory of being a baby, to say with any 'certainty' either way. All we can do is speculate.

[Elenkhos]

@CultOfByron Well, the world is a man made construct.If you are saying the "universe" then, yes.Take evolution for example.Evolution is touted as pure chance,but that is a load of shit.How could it be? There are laws which dictate "how" evolution will play the game,regardless of it's outcome.Those laws have to pre-existent,although perhaps mutable for evolution to work.That which governs or dictates law that controls a lesser process is obviously of greater intellect.

[SweetRandal]

wow! I am a graduate student in Literature and I can completely relate to his frustration with continental philosophy. He is dead on! Thank you so much for posting this!

[OUFCchampions]

TW: keep it real

[raffen79]

OMG! Williamson used the word "bullshit!" Great upload! Thanks. The man is a great philosopher.