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Finding Philosophy in the Answers We Chose to Live By

Dr. Elias Morrow was the antithesis of the stereotypical philosopher. He wasn't a recluse, didn't sport a disheveled appearance, and his thoughts weren't confined to the pages of ancient tomes in dimly lit libraries. His philosophy wasn't merely an academic pursuit; it was a way of life. Clad in denim, not tweed, his most profound insights were often scribbled on cafe napkins amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the chatter of patrons. Elias' philosophy was grounded in the belief that philosophy wasn't an abstract, esoteric discipline divorced from reality. It was, in essence, the lens through which we perceived and interacted with the world around us. This belief was crystallized one rainy afternoon when he witnessed a young woman grappling with a broken umbrella, her frustration evident in her furrowed brow and the exasperated sighs that escaped her lips. An elderly gentleman, seemingly oblivious to her plight, hurried past, leaving behind a trail of ...

EPISTEMIC AUTONOMY & THE SOCIAL: Navigating the Socio-Political Interplay of Personal and Social Knowledge Claims

     I concur with Emily Robertson in asserting that epistemic autonomy aligns with social influences. Knowledge claims, whether personal or social, are not private; knowing occurs personally within the social milieu. For instance, legal doctrines like Pro Reo play a crucial role in the admission of evidence, either furthering or dismissing cases, showcasing the deeply ingrained socio-political nature of humanity.      Social epistemologists propose that, rather than focusing on the properties of justification as in analytic epistemology, one should examine the range of practices in providing justification within society. Justification often involves giving and asking for reasons for one’s assertions. When a person asserts that p , they simultaneously claim that p is true , entitling them to make further claims.      Consider Descartes’ unavoidable dualism based on his claim that the 'Cogito' is the indubitable existential fulcrum. However,...

On Truth and History: A Response to Deborah Lipstadt’s TEDx Talk

Whenever I try to amalgamate the concepts “History” & “Truth”, my thoughts invariably gravitate towards the advent of post-modernism and its impact on these notions .   Post-modernism believes that there is no ‘Truth’, only ‘truths’; no sole Grand Narrative, but rather a multitude of narratives. History is a narrative narrated by a narrator. A historian is no less than a storyteller. But whose story? Her or his story. “History is written by the victors”. Before her untimely death in 2016, the late Philippine senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago succinctly expressed this view when she declared on national television, “There is no truth, only interpretation of facts.” In her compelling TEDx talk, American historian Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt contends that truth, nowadays, is under assault with truth-sayers finding themselves on the defensive. Drawing from her experiences in confronting Holocaust deniers, Lipstadt highlights the challenges posed by those who dismiss historical truths....