The OC Philosophy December Meetup

We meet once a month to discuss philosophy: what it is; the various ways it is and might be done; how you are doing it; and what difference it makes. The discussion can be focused on a topic or free flowing, and is open to all levels of experience.

For the December Meetup, I suggested and the group concurred that the topic should be, for lack of a better terms, ways of thinking or reasoning. Specifically, I hope to discuss critical thinking and abduction (no, not the crime), the process described by C.S. Peirce for using "evidence to reach a wider conclusion, as in inference to the best explanation. Peirce described abduction as a creative process, but stressed that the results are subject to rational evaluation. However, he anticipated later pessimism about the prospects of confirmation theory, denying that we can assess the results of abduction in terms of probability." (The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy). Anthony Flew pointed out in his Dictionary of Philosophy that "abduction" also refers to a syllogism of which the major premise is true but minor premise is only probable. I will post the readings later.

November's topic was ethics, which was suggested by Andrew, the Second, (aka, the Persian) who sadly did not join us, but Andrew, the First, presented an overview on his behalf. The discussion was wide ranging and diverse, being greatly furthered by Catharine and Andrew, the Third, who joined us from Northern England, via Laguna Beach. Welcome Catharine and Andrew.

Happy philosophizing!