Experimental Philosophy as An Approach to A Reduced Philosophy
Experimental philosophy has emerged as a significant trend in Western philosophical discourse over the past two decades and is increasingly recognized as a novel methodological approach.It has garnered attention from many Chinese scholars,leading to extensive research in this field.However,as a relatively new area of philosophical inquiry,experimental philosophy lacks sufficient theoretical support and empirical validation,resulting in ongoing debates regarding its significance and value within the international philosophical community.In China,studies primarily focus on the distinction between reason and intuition,highlighting the foundational role of intuitive knowledge in epistemology.This paper seeks to critically re-evaluate the philosophical positioning of experimental philosophy by situating it within contemporary metaphysical discussions.I propose viewing experimental philosophy as a form of reduced philosophy aimed at addressing the modern task of dissolving metaphysics.Reduced philosophy seeks to eliminate all superfluous elements from philosophy,retaining only its most essential applications.This approach facilitates a clearer understanding of our knowledge regarding external objects,the world,and ourselves.In this context,philosophy is not merely a reflective activity about the content of knowledge but an interpretative endeavor concerning the nature of knowledge itself.Philosophy cannot claim the task of comprehensively understanding the world;instead,it serves to clarify our existing knowledge about it.This paper emphasizes the need for a return to the original methodological function of philosophy,not in terms of specific research methods but through a philosophical interpretation of the methods themselves.A key assertion is that when we strip away all extraneous elements from philosophy,we recognize that it is not a metaphysical entity but rather an effort to dissolve metaphysical claims.Experimental philosophy embodies one contemporary form of this dissolution.The empirical investigation of philosophical intuition is a central focus of experimental philosophy,which encompasses three primary modes:first,deriving explanations of the outcomes of philosophical intuitions through data analysis;second,assessing the results of philosophical intuitions via imaginative judgment or logical reasoning;and third,enhancing empirical support and cognitive acceptance of philosophical intuitions through probability statistics and validation.Experimental philosophy utilizes modern scientific methods,statistical probability,and data analysis to provide more effective explanations for factual predictions that traditionally relied on logical reasoning.However,the empirical results yielded through these methods do not always align with cognitive intuitions.The goal of experimental philosophy is to establish a basis for our philosophical judgments,supported by empirical evidence.Nevertheless,if philosophical activities or intuitions are empirically verifiable,they may not differ fundamentally from the verification of propositions in the natural sciences.Ultimately,philosophical discourse should not rely solely on explanations of specific objects,as this diverges from philosophy's essential role.While proponents of metaphysical perspectives may argue that philosophy is fundamentally about inquiries into reality and its ultimate nature,such views are increasingly challenged within experimental philosophy.This paper contends that addressing metaphysical issues in experimental philosophy is less about solidly affirming metaphysical claims and more about dismantling the foundations of metaphysical thought.
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