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    Carmelics

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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that What counts as 'nature's purpose' is not empirically discoverable but is smuggled in via normative assumptions (Hume, Treatise, III.i.1).

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Biological function is empirically discoverable through causal role in survival and reproduction without smuggling in values.
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    • 2.The distinction between 'discovering purpose' and 'imposing values' may itself rely on unclear boundaries, not invalidate functional analysis.
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    • 3.Even if purpose-language involves norms, this doesn't mean all such claims are equally unfounded or lack empirical grounding.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
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    • 1.Empirical observation cannot distinguish between natural regularities and prescriptive purposes without additional interpretive frameworks.
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    • 2.Historical shifts in what counts as 'nature's purpose' correlate with changing moral and social values, not new empirical discoveries.
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    • 3.Any claim that X has purpose Y requires evaluating Y as good/desirable, which is a normative judgment beyond observation.
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