In light of our recent discussions on Aristotle and value disagreements, this may be informative. Can we agree that there are facts or as Aristotle referred to them as "universal principles"?
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-19/news/ct-talk-huppke-obit-facts-20120419_1_facts-philosopher-opinion
Ironically, I'm asserting this new bit of knowledge on a blog!
cp
Heh, but I have a little bit of trouble buying that this is some new problem. Even before Aristotle invented facts, Socrates' main target was the Sophists, who used the eeeevil power of rhetoric to "make the weaker argument appear to be the stronger."
ReplyDeleteOne explanation for why people know so little about political issues, by the way, is that it matters so little to most people's lives. The idea is that, if I don't know how to cook, I starve. If I don't know whether Obama is a Muslim, enh, I get a slightly different flavor of high-level political policy. Sayeth the minimalists.
Another question to maybe ask ourselves is: OK, so this one guy believes in communists in Congress, but is that widespread? Do many people really buy it? I don't know.