Against Facts

Author : Arianna Betti
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 325 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2015-07-10
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780262029216

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Against Facts by Arianna Betti Pdf

An argument that the major metaphysical theories of facts give us no good reason to accept facts in our catalog of the world. In this book Arianna Betti argues that we have no good reason to accept facts in our catalog of the world, at least as they are described by the two major metaphysical theories of facts. She claims that neither of these theories is tenable—neither the theory according to which facts are special structured building blocks of reality nor the theory according to which facts are whatever is named by certain expressions of the form “the fact that such and such.” There is reality, and there are entities in reality that we are able to name, but, Betti contends, among these entities there are no facts. Drawing on metaphysics, the philosophy of language, and linguistics, Betti examines the main arguments in favor of and against facts of the two major sorts, which she distinguishes as compositional and propositional, giving special attention to methodological presuppositions. She criticizes compositional facts (facts as special structured building blocks of reality) and the central argument for them, Armstrong's truthmaker argument. She then criticizes propositional facts (facts as whatever is named in “the fact that” statements) and what she calls the argument from nominal reference, which draws on Quine's criterion of ontological commitment. Betti argues that metaphysicians should stop worrying about facts, and philosophers in general should stop arguing for or against entities on the basis of how we use language.

Author : Margaret Gilbert
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 538 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 1992-04-12
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0691020809

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On Social Facts by Margaret Gilbert Pdf

Are social groups real in any sense that is independent of the thoughts, actions, and beliefs of the individuals making up the group? Using methods of philosophy to examine such longstanding sociological questions, Margaret Gilbert gives a general characterization of the core phenomena at issue in the domain of human social life. After developing detailed analyses of a number of central everyday concepts of social phenomena--including shared action, a social convention, a group's belief, and a group itself--she proposes that the core social phenomena among human beings are "plural subject" phenomena. In her analyses Gilbert discusses the work of such thinkers as Emile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, Max Weber, and David Lewis. "Gilbert's book aims to ... exhibit some general and structural features of the conceptual scheme in terms of which we think about social groups, collective action, social convention, and shared belief.... [It] offers an important corrective to individualistic thinking in the social sciences...."--Michael Root, Philosophical Review "In this rich and rewarding work, Margaret Gilbert provides a novel and detailed account of our everyday concepts of social collectivity. In so doing she makes a seminal contribution to ... some vexed issues in the philosophy of social science.... [An] intellectually pioneering work."--John D. Greenwood, Social Epistemology

Author : Michael Rex
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 32 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2020-02-11
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 9781984816276

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Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex Pdf

A hilarious, timely conversation about the differences between facts and opinions, by the creator of the #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight Goon Do you know the difference between a fact and an opinion? It can be a hard thing to understand. Some things are facts--like the number of robots in this book. Other things are opinions--like which robot would make the best friend, or which robot dances best. And sometimes to tell the difference between a fact and an opinion, you need to wait to get more information--that's because facts can be proven true or false, and opinions are things you feel and believe--but that you can't prove. Mike Rex introduces young readers to the very important distinction between facts and opinions, and he reminds us that it is nice to listen to one another's opinions, and to stand up for the facts!

Author : Michiko Kakutani
Publisher : Crown
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2019-08-13
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780525574835

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The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani Pdf

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winning critic comes an impassioned critique of America’s retreat from reason We live in a time when the very idea of objective truth is mocked and discounted by the occupants of the White House. Discredited conspiracy theories and ideologies have resurfaced, proven science is once more up for debate, and Russian propaganda floods our screens. The wisdom of the crowd has usurped research and expertise, and we are each left clinging to the beliefs that best confirm our biases. How did truth become an endangered species in contemporary America? This decline began decades ago, and in The Death of Truth, former New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani takes a penetrating look at the cultural forces that contributed to this gathering storm. In social media and literature, television, academia, and politics, Kakutani identifies the trends—originating on both the right and the left—that have combined to elevate subjectivity over factuality, science, and common values. And she returns us to the words of the great critics of authoritarianism, writers like George Orwell and Hannah Arendt, whose work is newly and eerily relevant. With remarkable erudition and insight, Kakutani offers a provocative diagnosis of our current condition and points toward a new path for our truth-challenged times.

Author : Wilfred Reilly
Publisher : Regnery Publishing
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2020-01-28
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781621579281

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Taboo by Wilfred Reilly Pdf

You Can’t Say That! Do you have a right to be offended by the facts? Against all the evidence, the mainstream media insist that America has never been more racist and sexist. The police are waging a war on Black people. “White privilege” means minorities never get a fair shake. Although this narrative of oppression is demonstrably fictitious, it is taboo to question it, and those who do so risk being labeled racist or sexist themselves. America needs an honest conversation based on common sense and cold, hard facts. Honesty and respect for the facts are the specialty of Wilfred Reilly, the celebrated author of Hate Crime Hoax. In Taboo, he fearlessly examines ten forbidden truths that have been buried by political correctness. They include: -The Black rate of violent crime is roughly 2.5 times the white rate. When demographic variables are taken into account, there are no racial differences in the rate of police-involved shootings. -Interracial crime is remarkably rare, but 75 to 80 percent of it occurs against white people. -Minorities can be racist—take the Nation of Islam, which holds that white people are an inferior race created by a Black scientist. -Disparities between racial groups in IQ testing and SAT performance are the result of cultural variables, such as the presence of a father in the home, not racism. Reilly goes where most social scientists fear to tread, using objective statistics and common sense to tackle taboo topics. Taboo is an essential takedown of the lies you hear every day from ideological activists and lazy, biased media.

Author : Simon Rogers
Publisher : Guardian Faber Publishing
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2013
Category : Almanacs
ISBN : 0571301614

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Facts are Sacred by Simon Rogers Pdf

A full-colour guide to the data that shapes our lives, looking behind the headlines and the soundbites to what's really going on. What are the real effects of the austerity measures? What is the true human cost of the war in Afghanistan?

Author : Shane Carley
Publisher : Cider Mill Press
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2023-04-18
Category : Humor
ISBN : 9781400340521

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True Facts That Sound Like Bull$#*t by Shane Carley Pdf

Prove you are the smartest schmuck in the room with 500 true trivia facts that sound absurd. These facts are so absurd some might even say that they sound like bull$#*t! Knowledge is power! Crush the competition at trivia night, or start the most interesting conversation ever with real facts that are hard to believe. This book is loaded with mind-blowing facts that are sure to keep you wondering, "How are these even true?" while equipping you to outsmart everyone around and blow their minds. Topics include: Science American Sports History Pop Culture Nature Put your game face on, and prove once and for all that you are the real know-it-all! Gather your friends and family 'round and get ready to learn some wild and crazy trivia and facts such as: True or False? A chicken once survived almost two years after having its head cut off. True or False? The dog that played Toto in The Wizard of Oz was paid a salary. How many baseballs does the MLB use every season? What state has jousting as its official sport? True or False? Most Canadians live south of Seattle. Stump everyone with True Facts That Sound Like Bull$#*t!

Author : Sara E. Gorman,Jack M. Gorman
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 329 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Belief and doubt
ISBN : 9780199396603

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Denying to the Grave by Sara E. Gorman,Jack M. Gorman Pdf

Why do some parents refuse to vaccinate their children? Why do some people keep guns at home, despite scientific evidence of risk to their family members? And why do people use antibiotics for illnesses they cannot possibly alleviate? When it comes to health, many people insist that science is wrong, that the evidence is incomplete, and that unidentified hazards lurk everywhere. In Denying to the Grave, Gorman and Gorman, a father-daughter team, explore the psychology of health science denial. Using several examples of such denial as test cases, they propose six key principles that may lead individuals to reject accepted health-related wisdom: the charismatic leader; fear of complexity; confirmation bias and the internet; fear of corporate and government conspiracies; causality and filling the ignorance gap; and the nature of risk prediction. The authors argue that the health sciences are especially vulnerable to our innate resistance to integrate new concepts with pre-existing beliefs. This psychological difficulty of incorporating new information is on the cutting edge of neuroscience research, as scientists continue to identify brain responses to new information that reveal deep-seated, innate discomfort with changing our minds. Denying to the Grave explores risk theory and how people make decisions about what is best for them and their loved ones, in an effort to better understand how people think when faced with significant health decisions. This book points the way to a new and important understanding of how science should be conveyed to the public in order to save lives with existing knowledge and technology.

Author : Samuel Arbesman
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2012-09-27
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781101595299

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The Half-Life of Facts by Samuel Arbesman Pdf

New insights from the science of science Facts change all the time. Smoking has gone from doctor recommended to deadly. We used to think the Earth was the center of the universe and that the brontosaurus was a real dinosaur. In short, what we know about the world is constantly changing. Samuel Arbesman shows us how knowledge in most fields evolves systematically and predictably, and how this evolution unfolds in a fascinating way that can have a powerful impact on our lives. He takes us through a wide variety of fields, including those that change quickly, over the course of a few years, or over the span of centuries.

Author : Michael P. Lynch
Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2016-03-21
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781631491863

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The Internet of Us: Knowing More and Understanding Less in the Age of Big Data by Michael P. Lynch Pdf

"An intelligent book that struggles honestly with important questions: Is the net turning us into passive knowers? Is it degrading our ability to reason? What can we do about this?" —David Weinberger, Los Angeles Review of Books We used to say "seeing is believing"; now, googling is believing. With 24/7 access to nearly all of the world’s information at our fingertips, we no longer trek to the library or the encyclopedia shelf in search of answers. We just open our browsers, type in a few keywords and wait for the information to come to us. Now firmly established as a pioneering work of modern philosophy, The Internet of Us has helped revolutionize our understanding of what it means to be human in the digital age. Indeed, demonstrating that knowledge based on reason plays an essential role in society and that there is more to “knowing” than just acquiring information, leading philosopher Michael P. Lynch shows how our digital way of life makes us value some ways of processing information over others, and thus risks distorting the greatest traits of mankind. Charting a path from Plato’s cave to Google Glass, the result is a necessary guide on how to navigate the philosophical quagmire that is the "Internet of Things."

Author : Peter Wohlleben,Mike Grady
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2020
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0008338388

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The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben,Mike Grady Pdf

Author : Kavanagh,Michael D. Rich
Publisher : Rand Corporation
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2018-01-16
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781977400130

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Truth Decay by Kavanagh,Michael D. Rich Pdf

Political and civil discourse in the United States is characterized by “Truth Decay,” defined as increasing disagreement about facts, a blurring of the line between opinion and fact, an increase in the relative volume of opinion compared with fact, and lowered trust in formerly respected sources of factual information. This report explores the causes and wide-ranging consequences of Truth Decay and proposes strategies for further action.

Author : Laura A. Millar
Publisher : American Library Association
Page : 193 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2021-03-04
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780838937570

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A Matter of Facts by Laura A. Millar Pdf

The safeguarding of authentic facts is essential, especially in this disruptive Orwellian age, where digital technologies have opened the door to a post-truth world in which "alternative facts" can be so easily accepted as valid. And because facts matter, evidence matters. In this urgent manifesto, archives luminary Millar makes the case that authentic and accurate records, archives, data, and other sources of documentary proof are crucial in supporting and fostering a society that is respectful, democratic, and self-aware. An eye-opening treatise for the general public, an invaluable resource for archives students, and a provocative call-to-arms for information and records professionals, Millar's book explains the concept of evidence and discusses the ways in which records, archives, and data are not just useful tools for our daily existence but also essential sources of evidence both today and in the future; includes plentiful examples that illustrate the critical role evidence plays in upholding rights, enforcing responsibilities, tracing family or community stories, and capturing and sharing memories; and examines the impact of digital technologies on how records and information are created and used. With documentary examples ranging from Mesopotamian clay tablets to World War II photographs to today’s Twitter messages and Facebook posts, Millar’s stirring book will encourage readers to understand more fully the importance of their own records and archives, for themselves and for future generations.

Author : Miguel Tamen
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 168 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9780804734325

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The Matter of the Facts by Miguel Tamen Pdf

"The author is not taken by the universalizing claims of hermeneutics that everything is reducible to interpretation, but he is not interested in quarreling directly with those claims either. And with respect to the notion of invention - that things don't simply exist but are produced, made up - he likewise is interested neither in the objections usually brought against it nor in the strength of that notion in resisting them.

Author : Benjamin Freedman
Publisher : Bridger House Publishers
Page : 117 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2009-03
Category : Religion
ISBN : 0979917662

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Facts Are Facts by Benjamin Freedman Pdf

INSCRIBED UPON THE CROSS WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED were the latin words "Jesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum." Pontius Pilate was the author of that famous inscription. Latin was Pontius Pilate's mother tongue. Authorities competent to translate and pass upon the correct translation into English agree that is "Jesus the Nazarene Ruler of the Judeans." There is no disagreement among them of that. THE WORD "JEW" did not occur anywhere in the English Language until the 18th Century. Jesus referred to himself as a Judean. The modern day "Jews" were historically Khazars or Chazars, a Mongolian Nordic tribe who roamed northern Europe.