ReviewReview

Dewey and social focusDewey and social focus– Political and educational involvementPolitical and educational involvement

Reforms failed—hard to implement w/o good teachersReforms failed—hard to implement w/o good teachers

Public quarrel with Bertrand RussellPublic quarrel with Bertrand Russell– Stops talking about ‘truth’Stops talking about ‘truth’

Warranted assertability and Warranted assertability and 可可 Coherence theory of truth with success for the whole Coherence theory of truth with success for the whole

body of beliefsbody of beliefs– Inner light (a priori) method plus success testInner light (a priori) method plus success test– Between James and PeirceBetween James and Peirce

Social Norms of AssertionSocial Norms of Assertion

Only if “know” Only if “know” – justified by language (concept) normsjustified by language (concept) norms

Assumption of shared information gatheringAssumption of shared information gathering– Need to trust and transmitNeed to trust and transmit

Social intelligence—norm system effectSocial intelligence—norm system effect– Rejects radical individualism in epistemologyRejects radical individualism in epistemology

Picture theory of belief and languagePicture theory of belief and language

– Fit for China and reception in BeijingFit for China and reception in Beijing

Kant and Darwin mixKant and Darwin mix

Plus English UtilitarianismPlus English Utilitarianism– World structured by World structured by socialsocial mind (language) mind (language)

Survival of fittest and most fulfilling (utility)Survival of fittest and most fulfilling (utility)

Theory of inquiryTheory of inquiry– Natural organic method refined in social practiceNatural organic method refined in social practice

Habit, frustration, observation activity, hypothesisHabit, frustration, observation activity, hypothesis– Test and return to habit (if successful)Test and return to habit (if successful)

Babies in lab-coats Babies in lab-coats – Is science is a cultural peculiarityIs science is a cultural peculiarity

Logic and inference—Chinese science?Logic and inference—Chinese science?

Practical DoubtPractical Doubt

Criticism of DescartesCriticism of Descartes– Not general total doubtNot general total doubt

No recoveryNo recovery

Actual doubt resolved by inquiryActual doubt resolved by inquiry– Relying on other beliefs—may be doubted laterRelying on other beliefs—may be doubted later

Science model—conservative and efficientScience model—conservative and efficient– System for storing, retrieving, informationSystem for storing, retrieving, information– All can access it without dominationAll can access it without domination

Apply it by its own principlesApply it by its own principles Social intelligenceSocial intelligence

QuestionsQuestions

Review next weekReview next week

You bring questions You bring questions

Day off?Day off?

Social EmphasisSocial Emphasis

Interest in Marxism, ChinaInterest in Marxism, China– Shared social focusShared social focus

– American "socialist"American "socialist" Critical of Marxism but shared view of human Critical of Marxism but shared view of human

social naturesocial nature

Main divergence: radical v ameliorativeMain divergence: radical v ameliorative– Violent v liberal—like Neurath's boatViolent v liberal—like Neurath's boat

"Classical Liberalism" "Classical Liberalism"

Conservative individualismConservative individualism Shallow psychology of human natureShallow psychology of human nature

– Atomistic, egoistic, base hedonistic, amoral Atomistic, egoistic, base hedonistic, amoral individuals (psychological egoist)individuals (psychological egoist)

– Needing law to motivate moral behaviorNeeding law to motivate moral behavior

Self-fulfilling prophecySelf-fulfilling prophecy– Familiar examples in business and loveFamiliar examples in business and love– American character v. Chinese character: American character v. Chinese character:

Our nature is shaped by culture and institutionsOur nature is shaped by culture and institutions

Classical Focus WrongClassical Focus Wrong

Not question of individual v societyNot question of individual v society– Question is how to blend nature & cultureQuestion is how to blend nature & culture

How to construct a culture given that it will be a self-How to construct a culture given that it will be a self-fulfilling prophecyfulfilling prophecy

New liberalism New liberalism – Way to justify liberty is that its institutions Way to justify liberty is that its institutions createcreate

free peoplefree people Self-critical, responsible, autonomousSelf-critical, responsible, autonomous

– Not something demanded by metaphysically free Not something demanded by metaphysically free individualsindividuals

DemocracyDemocracy

Face to face discussion creates Face to face discussion creates communal humanscommunal humans– Shared viewsShared views

Mutual respectMutual respect Equality Equality Concern for communityConcern for community

Advocate democracyAdvocate democracy– To To create create self‑governing, self‑perfecting self‑governing, self‑perfecting

beingsbeings

Not because majority is right or wiseNot because majority is right or wise

Justification Justification

Majoritarian fallacyMajoritarian fallacy– Have a right to decide ≠ are rightHave a right to decide ≠ are right– But prediction markets and “wisdom of crowds”But prediction markets and “wisdom of crowds”

A human right grounded in human nature?A human right grounded in human nature?– Classical atomistic individual argumentClassical atomistic individual argument

Goal of combined shared social intelligenceGoal of combined shared social intelligence– Each knows her own interest Each knows her own interest bestbest

Not perfectly but better than any authorityNot perfectly but better than any authority Combine interests in a decision procedureCombine interests in a decision procedure

– Involve all computing units in the problemInvolve all computing units in the problem

Real Problems for LiberalismReal Problems for Liberalism Non‑political/cultural factors inhibit moral Non‑political/cultural factors inhibit moral

growthgrowth– Democracy as empty election ritualDemocracy as empty election ritual– Even when politically freeEven when politically free– Manipulative "free" institutionsManipulative "free" institutions

Television, domination of media, TV evangalistsTelevision, domination of media, TV evangalists Money and power to persuadeMoney and power to persuade

Economic determinismEconomic determinism– Songs and artsSongs and arts– Confucius on Confucius on 禮禮 liliritualritual and music and music

ManipulationManipulation

Television and advertising create artificial needsTelevision and advertising create artificial needs– Cars, fashions, perfumes, colognes, styleCars, fashions, perfumes, colognes, style

Hong Kong specialtyHong Kong specialty

– Related to songs Related to songs and and natural impulsenatural impulse– Cf. Laozi and social desiresCf. Laozi and social desires

Education for jobsEducation for jobs– Free form of slaveryFree form of slavery– Sensationalist slavesSensationalist slaves

Educational system‑‑teaches docilityEducational system‑‑teaches docility Free-market culture makes us less freeFree-market culture makes us less free

SolutionSolution Political involvementPolitical involvement

– People take real power over themselvesPeople take real power over themselves Goal of democracy—responsibility to be informedGoal of democracy—responsibility to be informed

– Set up institutions with that goalSet up institutions with that goal Education systems, rule of law, rights, democracyEducation systems, rule of law, rights, democracy Achieve more success (Radical Westernizers in Achieve more success (Radical Westernizers in

China)China)

Social intelligenceSocial intelligence– Value knowledge is like scientific knowledgeValue knowledge is like scientific knowledge– Social, coherent and experimental—get and likeSocial, coherent and experimental—get and like– Criticize some only—no systematic value doubtCriticize some only—no systematic value doubt

Philosophy for AllPhilosophy for All

Reason in morals and in scienceReason in morals and in science– Social shared intelligenceSocial shared intelligence

We cannot choose not to philosophizeWe cannot choose not to philosophize– We choose do it well. . .We choose do it well. . .– Or badlyOr badly