François CholletVerified account

Rebuttal is part of the dialectic process

Yes, we are fallible and human learning is a self-correcting process. Still, some errors can be deeply disorienting and have extremely long-lasting and widespread destructive effects. Intelligent, sensible and responsible criticism is of the essence of 'doing philosophy'.

You can also say that about conspiracy theories. People watching about flat earth or ancient aliens may also claim that it was interesting and that they learned something. So I don't think that this argument is a good defense of philosophy.

Nope. This is not compatible with Platonism, which states the existence of an absolute truth and beauty. You need to reject Platonism flatly in order to write these sentences. If we don't call unproductive philosophies unproductive, they never die. Take an action, bury them.

Francois, who are your favourite philosophers? (Mine are Kant and Schopenhauer and Wittgenstein and Sellars and Brandom).

i far prefer interesting. in fact it's my highest compliment to a person. interesting is engaging. it's the process of give and take, discovery, and hopefully lessons learned.

Any recommendations for beginner books?