On your point about know-what also being a know-how, I would add that this seems to be roughly what a lot of philosophy of science converges upon. Our scientific knowledge is not divorced from practicality, but is grounded in the know-how of being able to make useable predictions that allow us to manipulate and navigate reality more effectively.
Pragmatism aligns with it too, with its understanding of beliefs as kind of rules that guide our actions.
You might also like to look into Henri Bergson's ideas about intuition (roughly know-how) and intellect (roughly know-what), and how intuition is more fundamental and intellect is within intuition. Intuition is our experience of the world as it really exists in motion, beyond the ability of our static concepts to grasp, while intellect is the world as our minds attempt to freeze it in separate frames and cut it apart. By the sounds of it, there may be some very interesting parallels between Bergson and Heidegger.
Agreed on what you're saying about philosophy of science. I was definitely influenced there by Ian Hacking, who puts a lot of emphasis on our ability to intervene and interact with matter. Pragmatism is also something that I've considered myself aligned with, but I know very little about it — I just read something years ago (I think about Peirce on the SEP) and I was like "ah yeah, that's definitely right", but didn't follow up.
Bergson is a name I hear come up a lot (unless maybe I'm confusing it with another B-name — is he the one who has a famous theory of time?), and what you're describing sounds interesting. Is there a book or paper you would recommend as a starting place?
Yes, Bergson is the one who talks a lot about time. I've only read his 'Creative Evolution', which was great, although a bit difficult. I've heard good things about Emily Herring's book on him, which I have waiting on my shelf.
Sounds like an interesting book. I like difficult — feels like a real accomplishment when you make it through. Thanks for the rec, will have to check it out!
I loved this.
On your point about know-what also being a know-how, I would add that this seems to be roughly what a lot of philosophy of science converges upon. Our scientific knowledge is not divorced from practicality, but is grounded in the know-how of being able to make useable predictions that allow us to manipulate and navigate reality more effectively.
Pragmatism aligns with it too, with its understanding of beliefs as kind of rules that guide our actions.
You might also like to look into Henri Bergson's ideas about intuition (roughly know-how) and intellect (roughly know-what), and how intuition is more fundamental and intellect is within intuition. Intuition is our experience of the world as it really exists in motion, beyond the ability of our static concepts to grasp, while intellect is the world as our minds attempt to freeze it in separate frames and cut it apart. By the sounds of it, there may be some very interesting parallels between Bergson and Heidegger.
Glad you liked it!
Agreed on what you're saying about philosophy of science. I was definitely influenced there by Ian Hacking, who puts a lot of emphasis on our ability to intervene and interact with matter. Pragmatism is also something that I've considered myself aligned with, but I know very little about it — I just read something years ago (I think about Peirce on the SEP) and I was like "ah yeah, that's definitely right", but didn't follow up.
Bergson is a name I hear come up a lot (unless maybe I'm confusing it with another B-name — is he the one who has a famous theory of time?), and what you're describing sounds interesting. Is there a book or paper you would recommend as a starting place?
Yes, Bergson is the one who talks a lot about time. I've only read his 'Creative Evolution', which was great, although a bit difficult. I've heard good things about Emily Herring's book on him, which I have waiting on my shelf.
Sounds like an interesting book. I like difficult — feels like a real accomplishment when you make it through. Thanks for the rec, will have to check it out!