"The standard objection to Dewey's instrumental theory of value judgments is that it concerns the value of things as means only, and not as ends. It fails to fix on what is ultimately important: intrinsic values or final ends. Some ultimate end outside of practice must be postulated as given, as the standard against which the value of acts as means ( Read more... )

In this post written much earlier this summer, I made a push for the very unpopular ('round here) view of instrumentalism about truth. One of the objections presented was that it "simply pushes the skeptical problem back a step and into the realm of values ( Read more... )

In no particular order: ( many words )

Yesterday the sun shone on Boston for the first time in a week. Then my sister and I taught a lot of ITA employees how to play Diplomacy. This week Katie returns. Later today, my boss should arrive back in the office and, I hope, give me some kind of concrete work to do. The outlook it one of extreme peachiness in the very near future--with ( Read more... )

Today I was indolent and unproductive. Just using IRC now for the first time at work on a channel dedicated to talking about when the food for dinner is coming, although the conversation is currently about Japanese loan-word etymology. And Cup O'Noodles. I'm being deliberately absurd , but I'm not sure if they've caught on yet. Oh well ( Read more... )

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I've had the impression of being constantly in motion for over a week now--no time to rest and reflect. This is a healthy change for me, I think, since a static life often feels like no life at all. However, they also say that the unexamined life is not worth living either--I need a balance. Right now, I'm feeling exhausted.
( Three people. Me being judgmental )

Whine, whine, whine--my life is full of discontent and belly aches.

Such has been my attitude as of late. But I realized something (again...for the nth time this weekend, but with more intensity) that made me happy again:

Nietzsche's a pragmatist!
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I think I've said something along the lines of this before, but I'm going to say it again under the illusion that saying it will cause me to start acting on it ( Read more... )