Looking below the surface

[Jim B.]

Okay.

So sticking with the gravity example, what is the deeper explanation that science has not (and presumably cannot) find?

And why should we suppose it is true?

No, that was an analogy showing what a 'deeper' explanation within science would be like. And presumably there are even 'deeper' scientific explanations for gravity that will be discovered in the future.

[The Pixie]

No, that was an analogy showing what a 'deeper' explanation within science would be like. And presumably there are even 'deeper' scientific explanations for gravity that will be discovered in the future.

So can you think of any example at all where we have a "deeper" explanation that science cannot offer?

And can you offer any reason to suppose it is true?

[Jim B.]

No, that was an analogy showing what a 'deeper' explanation within science would be like. And presumably there are even 'deeper' scientific explanations for gravity that will be discovered in the future.

So can you think of any example at all where we have a "deeper" explanation that science cannot offer?

And can you offer any reason to suppose it is true?

Sure. An understanding of the assumptions that science must take for granted in order to be and function at all. We know that through reason.
An understanding of the scope and limits of scientific investigation. We know this through an understanding of the nature of science.
The knowledge that I am conscious and that I am experiencing red and the extrapolation from that fact that all instances of this kind of knowledge are immediately given and unimpeachable.
The knowledge that torturing children for fun is morally wrong.
The knowledge that it is impossible that all promises are broken and that all paintings are forgeries.
The knowledge that all bachelors are unmarried men.
The knowledge that pleasure is good and pain is evil.
None of these, except for the one about consciousness, is unimpeachable just as no scientific datum is unimpeachable. Reason would indicate that they're at least as certain, and probably more certain, than any scientific claim.

[The Pixie]

Sure. An understanding of the assumptions that science must take for granted in order to be and function at all. We know that through reason.
An understanding of the scope and limits of scientific investigation. We know this through an understanding of the nature of science.
The knowledge that I am conscious and that I am experiencing red and the extrapolation from that fact that all instances of this kind of knowledge are immediately given and unimpeachable.
The knowledge that torturing children for fun is morally wrong.
The knowledge that it is impossible that all promises are broken and that all paintings are forgeries.
The knowledge that all bachelors are unmarried men.
The knowledge that pleasure is good and pain is evil.
None of these, except for the one about consciousness, is unimpeachable just as no scientific datum is unimpeachable. Reason would indicate that they're at least as certain, and probably more certain, than any scientific claim.

Okay, thanks. None from theology then. interesting.

In what sense is, for example, the knowledge that all bachelors are unmarried men deeper than science?

[Jim B.]

Sure. An understanding of the assumptions that science must take for granted in order to be and function at all. We know that through reason.
An understanding of the scope and limits of scientific investigation. We know this through an understanding of the nature of science.
The knowledge that I am conscious and that I am experiencing red and the extrapolation from that fact that all instances of this kind of knowledge are immediately given and unimpeachable.
The knowledge that torturing children for fun is morally wrong.
The knowledge that it is impossible that all promises are broken and that all paintings are forgeries.
The knowledge that all bachelors are unmarried men.
The knowledge that pleasure is good and pain is evil.
None of these, except for the one about consciousness, is unimpeachable just as no scientific datum is unimpeachable. Reason would indicate that they're at least as certain, and probably more certain, than any scientific claim.

Okay, thanks. None from theology then. interesting.

In what sense is, for example, the knowledge that all bachelors are unmarried men deeper than science?

It's an example of logical relations that determine all thought and language, including scientific. In that sense, it's 'prior' to, and broader than, empirical knowledge.