“Lastly, we cannot settle questions about either knowledge or being without raising questions of value or worth (axiology), such as whether and to what extent knowledge and truth are good or worth seeking.”
Although, I had other previously held thoughts regarding the tool-kit, I found this one specific topic to be the most intellectual intriguing subsequent to the brief discussion we had in class regarding this subject. Of course, I am talking about the debate as to whether metaphysical and epistemological claims can exist independently of the sub-domain of axiology.
After class, this importance of this issue increased significantly in my view, mainly because of the inherit discrepancy I saw in the various readings/lectures regarding this subject. For example, in the quote I listed above, which comes straight out of the tool-kit, it implies that axiology absolutely runs parallel with any sort of metaphysical or ontological claim. Accordingly, I found it interesting when Dave stated the opposing view in class.
It does seem that the sub-domain of axiology can run independently of the other two sub-domains. For example, a metaphysical claim can be made without including the values/norms. With that said, it also seems that there are ways in which axiological concerns are also automatically included within any type of metaphysical or epistemological claim. For example, the idea of truth certainly brings in axiological concerns because many view truth as a virtue. Consequently, if truth is a virtue, then any type of claim inherently contains axiological concerns because we must determine the veracity of the claim.
Although the truth example and other example provide possible evidence in support of the idea that the sub-domain of axiology is automatically connected to the other two sub-domains, as Dave pointed out in class, these explanations are sort of just “throwing-in” axiology with the other two-domains; instead of actually proving why the sub-domain is actually connected with the other two. Accordingly, I would concluded that while axiology is not as well connected to the other sub-domains as they are to each other, in the majority of cases, the sub-domain of axiology is certainly with the sub-domains of epistemology and ontology.
The relationship between the sub-domains of phil./ Commenting on The Tool-Kit
Hello!
Writing about myself is not my favorite activity, but here I go. My name is Bryan, and I am a Junior at MCLA. I am a Psychology major, and I am planning to enter a graduate program in Industrial/Organizational Psych in a little over a year from now. For those of you who do not know me, I am nice guy, who enjoys meeting new people. At times I can come off as shy and reserved, and other times (probably much less often) I may seem loud and almost bombastic; I guess it depends who I am with. With that said, I would probably characterize myself as a sociable introvert—if that makes any sense.
This is my 5th seminar with DKJ and I have enjoyed every last one of them (he is probably sick of me at this point). Aside from fulfilling my honors/philosophy minor requirements through courses with Dave (and playing volleyball with the phil. Dept.), I spend a lot of my time within the Psychology department. I am currently working on my senior thesis, and I am the president of the E-Board of our local chapter of Psi-Chi (the psychology honors society). During the middle of the semester, you will also probably see me a lot in the library at nights tutoring psych courses. These things take up a lot of my time. If you happen to ever see me around, please feel free to say hello.
I am excited to take this course, and I especially look forward to examining literature’s ability to make use of philosophical analysis/ideas.