Question

I love thinking about and discussing philosophy; I consider it an extremely important discipline. But: In mathematics, many results have been discovered that are virtually certain to be true, especially over the past 300 years or so. There now exists a veritable mountain of results, with later results built upon earlier ones. Excluding that part of philosophy that may be said to overlap with mathematics (like symbolic logic and set theory), are there any results in philosophy that have been generally accepted by philosophers as either certain or nearly certain? Or on the other hand, are there not really any such results in philosophy? Is philosophy nothing more than an endless series of discussions, devoid of widely accepted conclusions?

Answer 1

In philosophy, unlike mathematics, there isn’t a canon of universally accepted truths; instead, it is a field characterized by its method of logic and reasoning to examine complex questions. Philosophy includes metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, and engages with many classic and contemporary issues, continuously aiming to deepen understanding rather than achieve finality.

Step-by-step explanation:

Unlike the field of mathematics, where results are built upon previous findings creating a robust structure of virtually certain truths, philosophy does not have a definitive body of knowledge universally accepted as truth. The nature of philosophy is to engage in an ongoing discourse, posing fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, and values. There are, however, methodologies in philosophy that are widely accepted, such as logic and reasoning, which serve as the tools for philosophers to explore these complex topics. It's similar to the sciences in that philosophical claims about the natural world should align with scientific findings, indicating that philosophy does welcome external evidence in pursuit of understanding.

Philosophical debates often center on the quest for wisdom, incorporating critical thinking to analyze and evaluate various beliefs and claims. Acknowledging that beliefs can be inconsistent or false is an integral part of this process. As such, there aren't ‘results’ in philosophy in the way that we see in mathematics – no equivalent of a theorem that stands unchallenged. Instead, the discipline of philosophy is characterized by its open-ended, dialectical nature, which rather than aiming for final answers, aims for deeper understanding and the illumination of issues from multiple angles.

The historical origins of philosophy demonstrate its broad and fundamental engagement with the world, including key areas like metaphysics and epistemology, while value theory addresses concepts such as ethics and political philosophy. Students of philosophy learn to navigate these dimensions through examples from philosophers across history and different cultures, considering a multicultural and inclusive curriculum. This dynamic field of study encourages thinking about classical philosophical questions, such as the nature of knowledge and justice, and contemporary issues related to human existence and society.