Attaching epistemic significance to metaphysical…
““Attaching epistemic significance to metaphysical intuitions is anti-naturalist for two reasons. First, it requires ignoring the fact that science, especially physics, has shown us that the universe is very strange to our inherited conception of what it is like. Second, it requires ignoring central implications of evolutionary theory, and of the cognitive and behavioural sciences, concerning the nature of our minds.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Attaching strong epistemic weight to metaphysical intuitions conflicts with naturalistic science and evolutionary insights, because it ignores empirical findings and cognitive origins.
In simple terms: Metaphysical intuitions clash with scientific and evolutionary evidence.
Key Takeaway
Question the epistemic status of intuitions.
Themes
philosophy
science
epistemology
evolution
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
theoretical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- teaching philosophy
- research methodology
Key Concepts
naturalism
cognitive bias
metaphysics
physics
Questions to Reflect On
- How reliable are intuitions in scientific theory?
- Can evolutionary psychology explain metaphysical beliefs?
A Different Perspective
Intuitions may be unreliable guides to truth.