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PLAN OF 0.FIRST AND SECOND ENLIGHTENMENT
0a outline
FIRST ENLIGHTENMENT
0b galilean relativity and newton
0c descartes
0d aether and dogmatic thinking
SECOND ENLIGHTENMENT
0e einstein and extended relativity
0f kant and einstein
Og EPR Paradox
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Site Plan
0C DESCARTES
Addressing the logical positivists of the Vienna Circle Popper said:
"The empirical basis of objective science is *nothing absolute.* [1]
Science does not rest on a rockbed. Its towering edifice, an amazingly bold
structure of theories, rises over a swamp. The foundations are piers going down
into the swamp from above. [2]
They do not reach a natural base, but go only as deep as is necessary to carry
the structure. One does not stop driving them down because one has reached firm
ground. Rather, one resolves to be satisfied with their firmness, hoping they
will carry the structure. [3]
(If the structure proves too heavy and begins tottering, it sometimes does not
help to drive the piers further down. It may be necessary to have a new building,
which must be constructed on the ruins of the collapsed structure's piers.) [4]
*The objectivity of science can be bought only at the cost of relativity.*
(He who seeks the absolute must seek it in the subjective.)" [5]
This vade mecum of current rational Epistemology could have been written by
Descartes:
[1] and [5] are compatible with Galilean Relativity armed by Descartes with exact
mathematical tools: Cartesian Referentials and Analytic Geometry which founded
calculus and most of modern science.
[5] is entirely contained in "Cogito ergo Sum", which turned upside down all
traditional beliefs in transcendental "objective reality" and established the
preponderance of subjectivity in cognition and science.
[2],[3] and [4] illustrate rational deductive/inductive axiomatization such as
it has been conceived by Galileo and completed with Cartesian Doubt or
Uncertainty.
Ergo, standing on the shoulders of Galileo, Descartes simply created the concept
and the methodology of science founding all subsequent rational Epistemology till
our own days. Unfortunately, rationality is far from dominating our thinking.
First Enlightenment did not entirely eradicate its contemporary Dogmatism and soon
collapsed under its reactionary assaults (0D AETHER AND DOGMATIC THINKING). The
reaction of Dogmatism went on uninterrupted till our epoch which is dominated by
dogmatic obscurantism (CB CRISIS OF NOUMENALISTIC LOGIC) out of which try timidly
to emerge the cornerstones of Second Enlightenment.
