Foundational Epistemology -- part VIII

Question identification is the key problem. Indeed, tracking questions, and the implicit assumptions can do most of the work of much of our thinking.

For instance...

• Diana Hsieh points out here that Descartes assumes a great deal about the nature of consciousness at the beginning of his Meditations.  Specifically, he assumes (IMO, incorrectly) that a mind can know about itself without knowing about the external world.
• Most questions about meaning assume that meaning isn't a feature of consciousness...but rather a feature of the world.
• Most questions about cause (or Why) ignore the fact that the english word Cause has many distinct meanings.  Why did you go to the store isn't the same kind of question as Why is the sky blue.  
• Most questions about groups are incoherent / unanswerable as posed.  Why did the Nation decide?  The nation didn't decide.  The president and/or congress decided.  Why did the people vote for Barack Obama?  Well...something between 25 and 30% of the eligible voters in the country voted for Obama.  Ask individuals and find out.  Why did the fluid move the way it did?  Statistical Mechanics...run statistics on the probable behavior of the individual atoms.
• Who should lead?  Assumes someone should lead...that the group should go in the same direction, and that "should" has some usefulness in context...

When thinking carefully, look for assumptions embedded in the question first.  Check for answers FAR later.