MacIntyre

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Questions and Answers

What is central to our understanding of ourselves, according to the hypothesis?

  • Our financial transactions with others.
  • Our capacity to use moral language and reasoning. (correct)
  • Our historical knowledge and its interpretations.
  • Our ability to engage in analytical philosophy.

Which type of philosophical analysis does not effectively address disorders of moral thought and practice?

  • Metaphysical philosophy.
  • Pragmatic philosophy.
  • Ethical philosophy.
  • Analytical and phenomenological philosophy. (correct)

What historical narrative is suggested to understand the disordered state of the imaginary world?

  • A neutral history of human achievements.
  • An analysis of philosophical ideologies in isolation.
  • A three-stage narrative of decline, catastrophe, and restoration. (correct)
  • A narrative focused solely on moral achievements.

Which thinkers are mentioned as propounding a type of philosophy and history that could help investigate moral hypothesis?

<p>Hegel and Collingwood. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one major objection raised against the view of the imaginary world?

<p>The inhabitants no longer recognize their achievements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the narrative described about the history of the imaginary and real world?

<p>A structure informed by standards of achievement and failure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the hypothesis suggest about our current understanding of morality?

<p>It may require a radical shift in our viewpoint. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stage is NOT part of the historical narrative proposed in the text?

<p>The stage of remarkable scientific progress. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author suggest about the state of the language of morality in our actual world?

<p>It is in a grave state of disorder similar to that of natural science. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophical approaches does the author claim would fail to recognize disorder in this imaginary world?

<p>Analytical philosophy, phenomenology, and existentialism. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term does the author use to describe the components of morality in the actual world?

<p>Simulacra of morality. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, what is a significant challenge when discussing morality in the current context?

<p>Recognizing the loss of comprehension of morality. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What hypothetical scenario does the author present regarding the language of natural science?

<p>It exists in a state of grave disorder despite continued usage. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the author draw from the comparison of moral language and scientific language?

<p>Both are in states of disorder, affecting their significance. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point of the text?

<p>The language of morality and values has been disrupted by historical events. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What idea does the author initially present and then reject?

<p>That a historical event could have erased all traces of itself from the past. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What reaction does the author anticipate regarding the suggestion of disorder in morality's language?

<p>It will be met with skepticism and rejection. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What foundational question does the author seek to explore concerning the language of morality?

<p>The potential loss of significance in moral conceptualization. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's potential explanation for the difficulty in recognizing moral disorder?

<p>The gradual nature of the shift in morality, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific event. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the author describe the potential catastrophic event?

<p>A continuous, multi-faceted process with no easily identifiable cause. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author imply about the role of academic history?

<p>Academic history is inherently biased towards identifying moral progression. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's primary purpose in this text?

<p>To argue that a catastrophic event has reshaped morality but is largely overlooked. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the author characterize the language of morality?

<p>As a fluid and dynamic aspect of human experience. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main implication of the author's argument?

<p>We need to re-evaluate historical understanding to include the possibility of moral disorder. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author suggest about the academic curriculum?

<p>It is disconnected from the historical perspectives of Hegel and Collingwood. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the author's hypothesis, how is the current state perceived?

<p>Disastrous yet unacknowledged by most. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the author differentiate between his view and that of modern radicals?

<p>Radicals avoid recognizing their own betrayal by moral language. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author imply about the remedies for the current state of society?

<p>There are no large remedies available for the disastrous state. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What emotional state does the author associate with the misunderstood concepts of existentialism?

<p>A fashionable form of despair. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of the author's book?

<p>To illuminate the thought of despair for all political viewpoints. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author reject in relation to the perception of despair?

<p>The notion that despair is permanently fashionable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's stance on the moral resources available in our culture?

<p>They may also be misleading even to those who assert them. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the central theme of the passage regarding the hypothetical scenario of the decline of science?

<p>The danger of relying solely on practical applications without understanding the underlying theory. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of the scientific decline described in the passage?

<p>The development of a new, more advanced form of science that surpasses the previous one. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's primary purpose in using the terms 'neutrino', 'mass', 'specific gravity', and 'atomic weight' in the final paragraph?

<p>To highlight the potential for misuse and misinterpretation of scientific terms. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The passage suggests that the revival of science in the scenario is characterized by which of the following?

<p>A reliance on practical applications without theoretical understanding. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author mean by the phrase 'Know-Nothing political movement'?

<p>A political movement that opposes intellectualism and knowledge. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is most analogous to the situation described in the passage where scientific knowledge is lost but its terminology persists?

<p>A musician playing a musical instrument but having no understanding of music theory. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The author's use of the word 'disquieting' in the title suggests that the hypothetical scenario is meant to be viewed as:

<p>A cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific progress. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The passage suggests that the process of reviving science after its decline would be:

<p>Challenging and complex, with obstacles to overcome. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Historical Catastrophe

An event significantly disrupting moral order yet invisible in records.

Moral Disorder

A state where moral values and practices are confused or broken.

Academic History

The study of history as a formal, scholarly discipline.

Value-Neutral Viewpoint

An analytical perspective that avoids moral judgments.

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Moral Evaluative Presuppositions

Underlying moral assumptions that shape historical interpretation.

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Recognition of Catastrophe

Acknowledgment of events significantly impacting society's morals.

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Complex Historical Processes

Long-term historical changes that are subtle and difficult to identify.

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Rival Interpretations of History

Different explanations or viewpoints regarding past events.

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Moral language

Language that expresses values, ethics, and moral reasoning.

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Philosophical analysis

A method of examining concepts and arguments in philosophy.

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History of natural sciences

Chronicles the rise, fall, and restoration of scientific thought.

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Standards of achievement

Criteria used to evaluate success or failure in historical context.

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Philosophical history

A narrative form that evaluates history based on philosophies.

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Catastrophe in morality

A significant moral failure or decline in understanding ethics.

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Imaginary world

A conceptual framework used to discuss realities and their discontents.

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Collingwood's historical writing

Views history as informed by subjective philosophical perspectives.

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Academic Curriculum

A structured course of study within educational institutions that is often disconnected from real-world issues.

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Historical Standpoint

A perspective on history based on philosophical views such as those of Hegel and Collingwood.

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Radicalism

A political ideology that advocates for drastic changes in society and often uses moral rhetoric.

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Moral Resources

Values and principles that inform ethical judgments and critiques of society.

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Despair

A state of hopelessness often linked to existentialist thought and psychological issues.

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Disaster Recognition

The understanding of a significant decline or crisis that is often ignored by society and academia.

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Antagonistic Stance

An oppositional approach to current beliefs or systems, differing from mainstream radicalism.

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Existentialist Misreading

Incorrect interpretations of existential philosophy, often leading to misfeelings of despair.

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Catastrophic event in science

A scenario where environmental disasters lead to the abolition of scientific teaching.

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Know-Nothing movement

A political movement that opposes scientific education and persecutes scientists.

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Fragments of scientific knowledge

Partial knowledge of scientific experiments and theories left after a catastrophe.

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Revival of science

The attempt to restore scientific understanding after it has been lost.

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Misapplication of scientific terms

Using scientific vocabulary without understanding the underlying concepts.

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Incoherent scientific practices

Engaging in scientific activities without a coherent theoretical framework.

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Survival of periodic table

Children reciting elements of the periodic table without comprehension.

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Loss of underlying beliefs

Absence of foundational principles that give meaning to scientific terms.

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Subjectivist theories of science

Theories claiming that scientific truth is based on personal perspectives.

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Imaginary world of science

A hypothetical world where scientific language exists in disarray.

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Analytical philosophy

A philosophical approach focused on descriptive analysis of language.

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Phenomenology

A philosophical approach studying structures of consciousness and intentionality.

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Simulacra of morality

Inauthentic representations of moral concepts that lack true significance.

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Disorder in moral language

The state of confusion and lack of clarity in moral discourse.

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Fragments of a conceptual scheme

Incomplete parts of a moral framework lacking context.

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Epistemological basis

The foundation for understanding knowledge and belief systems.

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Study Notes

A Disquieting Suggestion

  • Imagine a catastrophe befalls the natural sciences, leading to public unrest, and the eventual abolition of science.
  • Scientists are executed, labs are destroyed, and books are lost.
  • A remnant of scientific knowledge remains, fragmented and disconnected from its original context.
  • This fragmented knowledge is reinterpreted in a distorted way, resembling the original but flawed.

Scientific Fragmentation

  • Practices based on fragments of scientific theory are created.

  • Key concepts like relativity, evolution, and phlogiston are debated.

  • The reinterpreted theories are incoherent and inconsistent.

  • Individuals use scientific terms like "neutrino," "mass," and "atomic weight," in ways reminiscent of their previous use.

  • Underlying assumptions and connections of the original scientific knowledge are lost, leading to seeming rivals interpretations where there is no viable comparison

  • Philosophies like analytic philosophy and phenomenology, struggle to find the disorder in the lost and fragmented science.

Moral equivalent of the scientific disaster

  • Suggests a similar disarray is present in moral thought and language.
  • Moral theory and practice are disjointed, with key concepts and their interconnections lost.
  • Current moral discourse is merely a simulacrum of genuine moral thought.
  • Current interpretations are not seen as problematic or contradictory

Historical Perspective

  • Academic history and philosophy, is unable to detect moral disarray.
  • Past philosophies and historical narratives (e.g., Hegel, and Collingwood) may provide potential approaches to address this dilemma.
  • A catastrophic event might leave moral thinking fragmented, even if its occurrence is unrecorded.

Contemporary Relevance

  • The imaginary scenario highlights the potential for significant loss in contemporary thought and praxis without adequate historical examination.
  • A lack of context could cause a perceived gap in understanding of how terms and concepts are used and misrepresented.

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