Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Worst Argument in the World

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“I know of an argument which, although it is almost-unbelievably bad, has not only escaped critism by philosophers, but has received the endorsement of coutless philosophers. I think it is the worst argument in the world…” and so began a note from D.C. Stove at the University of Sydney in 1986. To find out which argument he is referring to read more at …

http://web.maths.unsw.edu.au/~jim/stoveworstargt.pdf .

Be sure to scroll down to the second page at the link.

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Comments

  1. Graham Finlayson says

    Jen,
    I can see how a scientist who likes to pidgeon hole or compartmentalise issues would warm to that article…
    I think I understand the arguement, as it reminds me of something I have written in my office about the stages of learning.

    ‘UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE ‘
    (You don’t know that you don’t know it)
    ‘CONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE’
    (You learn that you didn’t know it)
    ‘CONSCIOUS COMPETENCE’
    (You learn about how to do it)
    ‘UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE’
    (You can do and know it etc without thinking)

    Then of course you learn something new and get thrown back into the first stage. That is of course assuming the subject is willing to learn.