Dissolving the question

Emptiness applied to a question that relies on black-box thinking.  Realizing that where there seemed to be a substantial question, there actually never was one. 

Several philosophical questions are of this kind:

  • Theseus ship - one word same” is being used for two concepts (same constituent parts, same structural relationship)

  • Heap paradox -  one word heap” is being used for two concepts 

  • Sound forest -  one word sound” is being used for two concepts (vibrations in air, something heard by someone)

  • Pluto planet -  one word planet” is being used for two concepts

  • One right way to drive? - one word right” is being used for two concepts (that achieves coordination, ultimately morally/fundamentally/metaphysically desirable)

  • Is it a duck or a rabbit?” - it feels like the image has to be either a duck, or a rabbit Dissolving the question is what Wittgenstein was referring to when he said those interested in philosophy were flies” to whom he wanted to show the way out of the bottle. 

Sometimes the result of Deliberate Conflation motivated by Memetic warfare.


Date
March 6, 2023