Michael Gove to double spending per pupil in state schools

[Gibbon]

Is a tree the same as it's leaf?

Typical.

You stated that 'philosphopy is science' well, that is not an unchallenged view; it maybe your opinion, but it's not universal.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I'm not, it was SO who said philosophy was science, not that some consider it as such. I was merely pointing out some contrary evidence.

'Science' as we talk about it is a branch of philosophy that deals with physical reality, just as sorcery used to be considered a branch of philosophy (hence "Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone").

Philosophy is the science of truth, with 'science', as your MSc would study, being a particular categorisation of the study of truth. I.e. 'science' as relates to your hypothetical MSc is philosophy applied in a particular context.

[d000hg]

I'm not, it was SO who said philosophy was science, not that some consider it as such. I was merely pointing out some contrary evidence.

You as much as stated it was not science by comparing it to religion, which led to SO to disagree, which you then further disagreed with.

Are you saying you do or don't think philosophy should be considered science? FYI I don't think it is, but that you can make a decent argument either way.

[pjclarke]

If you want to talk abut subjective preferences, then I'm more than happy to hear your opinion. But in issues of objective reality, opinions are subordinate to truth.

Morality is either valid or not - there can be no difference of opinion when it comes to 'my' morality or 'yours'.

Sorry, this is nonsense. Of course there can. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not their own facts. But the idea that there is an objective method to providing a single valid answer to questions of morality, far from being mainstream, is confined to a few blogs and libertarian websites and novels. That is an objectively verifiable fact, by the way.

I would like the valid answer to this moral question, please:

Is it morally right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy?

Should be an easy one. Go for it.

[Platypus]

Not surprising considering the man is innumerate.

Apparently all skools should be above average.

To be fair, it was the previous government who first came out with this, something about everyone being level 4 and above? I don't recall exactly

[Gibbon]

You as much as stated it was not science by comparing it to religion, which led to SO to disagree, which you then further disagreed with.

Are you saying you do or don't think philosophy should be considered science? FYI I don't think it is, but that you can make a decent argument either way.

Agreed, one only has to google it, but note, religion and science can be closely associated as you well know.

[Ticktock]

To be fair, it was the previous government who first came out with this, something about everyone being level 4 and above? I don't recall exactly

The other interpretation being on the definition of average. Did he mean "all schools should be better than the median school", or did he mean "we currently rate schools as above, on, or below average and we want all schools to score enough to fit the above category".

If you grade exams on a scale of A - E and say that grade A is excellent, B is above average, C is average, D below average and E is terrible, it's perfectly possible for everyone in a class to score enough to be excellent or above average (unless you grade on a curve).

[SpontaneousOrder]

Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not their own facts. But the idea that there is an objective method to providing a single valid answer to questions of morality, far from being mainstream, is confined to a few blogs and libertarian websites and novels.

So you're suggesting that the truth in a proposition is directly proportional to it's popularity?

I would like the valid answer to this moral question, please:

Is it morally right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy?

Should be an easy one. Go for it.

Yes, of course.

Onto the straw man:
Your are however implying that objectivity == easy to understand. If that were true then thanks to science we'd understand all of the mysteries of the universe by now. And without needing the help of steven hawkin types too.

[d000hg]

Yes, of course

The fact you suffix "of course" discredits your likelihood of being taken seriously even by pro-choice advocates.

[vwdan]

The fact you suffix "of course" discredits your likelihood of being taken seriously even by pro-choice advocates.

It'd take a lot more than dropping a suffix to get him to be taken seriously by anybody, I suspect. Debating is all fun and all, but attempting to take the emotion out of something defined by it is rather naive and foolish, I feel.