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The Third Most Stupid Idea in Philosophy
Yes, there’s another one
In response to my recent article, “The Two Stupidest Ideas in Philosophy,” several astute readers asked me to write about how some philosophers deny reality. I know what they mean. These philosophers, if we can call them that, aren’t so much denying reality as they are inventing a stupid theory to replace it.
This idea is not as stupid as the two stupidest ideas (nothing could be). These philosophers can claim they are simply mistaken rather than trying to harm other people.
This third most stupid idea isn’t stupid because it is self-evident, as the two stupidest ideas are, and, unlike the first two, it has actual arguments for it. It is stupid because it is an idea that doesn’t lead to clearer thinking, it doesn’t offer us any useful further ideas on which we can act, and its arguments are self-refuting.
A Fad Theory
Philosophy has long been blessedly free from faddish thinking. Good philosophy considers current events and remains grounded in the current state of affairs, but it doesn’t chase after the next big thing or get swayed by the latest trends.
But this is the memeocene epoch, and memes and fads have now infected even philosophy. A small number of philosophers have dabbled in the popular science…
