In Conversation: W.V. Quine - Fara Interview - Section 9

[K2nsl3r]

"...the briefest intelligible encapsulation of all reality, the nature of the universe".

For someone who believes that the whole (set) IS the sum of its parts, and who disputes the idea of essences beyond all accidents, to ask a question like this is a probable plunder.

The briefest encapsulation of the universe, I reckon, is the universe in itself, in all its glory.

This barren quest for simplicity and intelligibility he sadly inherited from the epistemologists and the logical positivists.

[lolll0xx]

"What in OUR VOCABULARY, etc." at the beginning of the "quotation" you're giving makes quite the difference. Besides, Quine stressed his position on reductionism quite clearly (that makes your definition of Quine as "someone who believes that the whole is the sum of its parts" completely wrong).

[entropia34332]

sorry, this man is a "professional philosopher " but he is overrated ...he is no genius.

richard rorty who broke with the analytical tradition and brought a new discourse ,a fresh pragmatism seems to me much more interesting.

[mlosonsky]

beautiful finish. worthy of a great philosopher. And yes, the questions were a little silly, but it helps those of us who never met Quine to get a sense of him as a person, rather than just as a philosopher.

[Kronocide]

"In this interview, what question would you the least have liked me to ask you?"

"Well, again, a plurality... heheh" X-)

There were some really silly questions there, but at least he didn't ask Quine his favorite color. Otherwise, I find these uploads invaluable, a rare chance to hear some of the greatest speak. Thank you!

[t0kt0k]

Look at that senile old idiot. He would write a mean essay, though.

[CarlRobertStevens]

Learn respect.

[t0kt0k]

Respect is for those who deserve it.

[shilohwillcome]

Lets hear who you think deserves it. I hope it is good...

[t0kt0k]

C.S. Peirce, Kurt Godel, Charles de Morgan, Carl Sagan, Noam Chomsky, Thomas Paine, Amy Goodman, Richard Dawkins, etc. etc.

[shilohwillcome]

Thanks, but I Dawkins?? are you serious, he has nothing on Quine, maybe some of the rest.

[t0kt0k]

I dunno. It's just a list of respectable people that came to mind.

And yeah, I'd say the author of The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker is worthy of respect. even if he does pal around with a few charlatans.

[t0kt0k]

That said, Quine wrote some good books too. I just think he's overrated.

[shilohwillcome]

But Dawkins is not nearly as a clear a thinker as Quine, he frequently commits fallacies. Also, Dawkins' empiricism wouldn't even come close to making sense if it weren't for Quine. Quine wrote THE TWO DOGMAS OF EMPIRICISM, I could never see Dawkins write such a novel paper.

[t0kt0k]

I hadn't read that essay. I just check it out, and it's very good. Thanks.

Like I said, Quine could write a killer essay. I still don't like him, though.

[t0kt0k]

*checked

[shilohwillcome]

I'm sorry, but if you haven't read Two Dogmas, you know very little about Quine. And you are talking about a guy who knows 5 languages, got his doctorate at age 20 or something, was taught by the best American mathematicians everything they know, moved to Europe to absorb everything he could. I mean I'm a Theist, and can still appreciate him. He's a top philosopher, and extremely clear in his writing's, and even at the age here he's still very sharp. He's no fool.

[soundmuseum99]

please don't go around spouting opinions on Quine when you haven't even read his "Two Dogmas"