The point of philosophy, as I see it, is to change thinking, and thereby to change the conversation. Philip Kitcher More Quotes by Philip Kitcher More Quotes From Philip Kitcher It's a very bad idea for scientific conclusions to be accepted because they fit with the political values of a group of researchers. Philip Kitcher groups political ideas It is hard to hide our genes completely. However devoted someone may be to the privacy of his genotype, others with enough curiosity and knowledge can draw conclusions from the phenotype he presents and from the traits of his relatives. Philip Kitcher curiosity science knowledge I believe that the arts make indispensable contributions to our understanding. Philip Kitcher understanding believe art I'm very suspicious of the idea of a "final theory" in natural science, and the thought of a complete system of ethical rules seems even more dubious. Philip Kitcher dubious finals ideas It may be hyperbolic to declare that Shakespeare teaches us more about being human than all the natural scientists combined. Philip Kitcher scientist being-human may Anxieties about ourselves endure. If our proper study is indeed the study of humankind, then it has seemed-and still seems-to many that the study is dangerous. Perhaps we shall find out that we were not what we took ourselves to be. But if the historical development of science has indeed sometimes pricked our vanity, it has not plunged us into an abyss of immorality. Arguably, it has liberated us from misconceptions, and thereby aided us in our moral progress. Philip Kitcher vanity anxiety historical I would like to undermine the stereotype of "strict philosophy." J.L. Austin remarked that, when philosophy is done well, it's all over by the bottom of the first page. I take him to have meant that the real work comes in setting up the problem with which you are dealing, and thus getting your reader to take particular things for granted. Philip Kitcher austin real philosophy One goal of ethical inquiry might be to uncover strategies available for use when values conflict or when rules are incomplete. Philip Kitcher inquiry goal use The theory of evolution explains to us what our ancestry has been. It does not explain away our worth. Why should we be afraid to learn more about what we are? Philip Kitcher theory-of-evolution ancestry doe My ethical naturalism sees us as facing the predicament of being social animals without evolved adaptations that make social life easy. The fundamental problem that sparks the ethical project lies in our limited responsiveness to one another. The only way we have to address that problem is through a representative, informed, and engaged conversation. Philip Kitcher fundamentals animal lying Refined religion is aimed at realizing ethical values, including the fostering of human lives and human communities. Philip Kitcher ethical realizing community Most influential of all is the philosopher Stanley Cavell, and a younger generation of philosophers who have attempted to follow his pioneering work in thinking about literature philosophically. Philip Kitcher generations literature thinking I take the ethical truths to be the stable elements that emerge out of ethical progress and that are retained under further ethical progress. Philip Kitcher ethical progress elements It's not at all a bad idea for scientific questions to be chosen because a democratic deliberation would identify them as important for people's lives. Philip Kitcher important people ideas I don't think that anything of any consequence is known a priori: all our knowledge is built up by modifying the lore passed on to us by our ancestors in light of our experiences, and the best a philosopher can do is to learn as much about what has been discovered in various empirical fields, and use it to try to craft an improved synthesis. Philip Kitcher light trying thinking Philosophers ought to aspire to know lots of different things and to forge useful synthetic perspectives. Philip Kitcher philosopher perspective different Philosophy by showing - including philosophy in literature - does truly valuable work in leading us to new perspectives from which our arguments can then begin. It does so by introducing new synthetic complexes, which we then reflect on from various points of view. When the complexes survive and grow, that initial showing has been philosophically decisive. Philip Kitcher introducing-new views philosophy The "little theme" from Vinteuil, heard by Swann as emblematic of his love for Odette, remains a point of reference for him, as the character of that love changes and as the love eventually fades. Philip Kitcher his-love littles character Science literacy consists in the ability and the desire to follow reports of new scientific advances, throughout your whole life. Philip Kitcher literacy ability desire In ethics, we don't make progress by discovering pre-existent truths; we do so by solving problems. Philip Kitcher ethics progress problem
