Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Do Chairs Exist?

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

This is a lovely introduction to ontology packaged as an entertaining 38 minute video. It asks the simple question "do chairs exist?" and through a series of considerations shows how this very simple question actually has a very complex answer. It's not merely a question of whether we can rely on the senses; it also calls into question how we identify and name objects at all. And how we count them. At a certain point, it all appears pretty arbitrary. "Ordinary objects may be unredeemably vague." Or "A chair is simples arranged chairwise." And that's the point. As a philosopher I appreciate the fun romp though the standard arguments; as an educator I appreciate the presentation and the clarity of the exposition.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 07:45 a.m.

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