Ayer might not mind after all!<br><br><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Ayer#Near-death_experience">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Ayer#Near-death_experience</a><br><br>Actually, metaphysics had a revival after the days of logical positivism in the 1960-70s. But even the strictest positivist would be fine with most of what counts as metaphysics these days, which is nothing more than the conceptual analysis of various terms used in the sciences: "causation," "space," "time," "disposition," etc. The Moscow Metaphysicians is just a small group of local professors who are interested in these and other issues. Each meeting centers around a particular paper that one of us is writing.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Jun 5, 2011 at 12:51 PM, Ted Moffett <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com">starbliss@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
"Moscow Metaphysicians?!"<br>
<br>
A. J. Ayer turns in this grave!<br>
<br>
<a href="http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/wphil/lectures/wphil_theme21.htm" target="_blank">http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/wphil/lectures/wphil_theme21.htm</a><br>
<br>
Excerpts below from website above, courtesy of Dr. Wesley Wildman (<br>
<a href="http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/main_about.html" target="_blank">http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/main_about.html</a><br>
<a href="http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/index.htm" target="_blank">http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/index.htm</a> ) at Boston<br>
University:<br>
<br>
"But Ayer and the positivists said that metaphysics was actually meaningless."<br>
----------------<br>
"Story about Ayer in Washington, with Kennedys:<br>
<br>
Invited to lecture at Schlesinger’s house while visiting professor at<br>
City College (1961-2), for one of President Kennedy’s series on the<br>
social sciences. Though the President couldn’t attend, Robert and<br>
other Kennedies there. Ayer summarizes the analytic tradition, gets<br>
fairly "silent" reception. Then Eunice Shriver whispers: "Is it<br>
possible this man doesn’t believe in God?" Ethel asks Ayer why he<br>
didn’t talk about Aquinas, and Ayer replies he doesn’t know much about<br>
him. Ethel seems triumphant at this, but Ayer then suggests that she<br>
probably hasn’t read much Aquinas either, but rather knows of the<br>
neo-Thomist tradition, which he, Ayer, did know something about. They<br>
then discuss Maritain, Ethel gets confused at one point, and Robert is<br>
heard to say quietly from the back of the room, "Drop it, Ethel."<br>
(More, 208-9)."<br>
------------------------------------------<br>
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
On 6/3/11, Joe Campbell <<a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Psychiana, Moscow's first and only philosophy. Very cool! Unfortunately I'm<br>
> meeting with the Moscow Metaphysicians that evening.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On Jun 3, 2011, at 6:09 PM, Stephanie Kalasz <<a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us">skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us</a>><br>
> wrote:<br>
><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> City of Moscow<br>
>><br>
>> 206 E Third Street<br>
>><br>
>> Moscow, ID 83843<br>
>><br>
>> Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor<br>
>><br>
>> p | <a href="tel:208-883-7006" value="+12088837006">208-883-7006</a><br>
>><br>
>> e | <a href="mailto:griedner@ci.moscow.id.us">griedner@ci.moscow.id.us</a><br>
>><br>
>> w | <a href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us" target="_blank">www.ci.moscow.id.us</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> PRESS RELEASE<br>
>><br>
>> History of Psychiana in Moscow Subject of Final Lecture in Series, Special<br>
>> Guest to Attend<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> June 3, 2011 (Moscow, Idaho) – The final lecture in the series<br>
>> commemorating the 100-Year anniversary of the construction of the building<br>
>> now known as City Hall, will be held on June 7th at 7 p.m. in City Hall<br>
>> Council Chambers, 206 E. Third Street. Keith Petersen, State<br>
>> Historian/Associate Director for the Idaho State Historical Society will<br>
>> present, “Psychiana: The world’s largest mail order religion and a small<br>
>> town post office.”<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> Peterson will be discussing the history of Frank Bruce Robinson, a Moscow<br>
>> resident, who founded Psychiana in the 1930s which went on to become what<br>
>> is recognized as possibly the world’s largest mail order religion.<br>
>> Additionally, Petersen has arranged for a special guest to join the<br>
>> lecture that evening, Robinson’s son, Alfred Robinson.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> This lecture is free and open to the public.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> ###<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> Story Contact: Jen Pfiffner, Assistant to the City Supervisor<br>
>><br>
>> Phone: <a href="tel:208.883.7123" value="+12088837123">208.883.7123</a><br>
>><br>
>> Email: <a href="mailto:jpfiffner@ci.moscow.id.us">jpfiffner@ci.moscow.id.us</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> The City of Moscow delivers quality municipal services while ensuring<br>
>> responsible use of resources. We anticipate and meet the needs of our<br>
>> diverse population in order to build public trust and enhance a sense of<br>
>> community.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>