In Conversation: W. V. Quine - Block Panel - Section 4

[Hallibutbouy]

Ned Block looks like Mr Potato head!!!!

[mimimotor]

How true!

[randyhelzerman]

Interesting how things change. At the time of this filming, the Mary argument seemed so conclusive; now even Frank Jackson doesn't think that it goes through.

[Hallibutbouy]

Forgive my ignorance. How has the validity of the Mary argument been undermined?

[randyhelzerman]

Hi Hallbutbouy, check out the (ingeniously titled) book "There's something about Mary" edited by Peter Ludlow, et al. It contains tons of essays which rake the Mary argument over the coals, and concludes with a REMARKABLE essay by Frank Jackson himself (he's the guy who invented the mary argument) in which he says that he has changed his mind about it and now doesn't think that it is valid. I have to say I have full respect for Dr. Jackson: all of the great philosophers have (cont)

[randyhelzerman]

(cont, to Hallbutbouy) had to repudiate some of their work (think of Wittgenstein) but what makes them great is that they arn't so wedded to them that they can admit it and get on with doing even better work.

[odayk]

yes, but very few, if any, can do so on the grounds of someone ELSE'S criticism.

[randyhelzerman]

sad but true.

[Myndir]

Watching this discussion is like eating a perfect meal: every single bit is brilliant.