Author: Michael Shaffer
Publisher: Open Court
ISBN: 0812697413
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
This book deals with questions about the nature of a priori knowledge and its relation to empirical knowledge. Until the twentieth century, it was more or less taken for granted that there was such a thing as a priori knowledge, that is, knowledge whose source is in reason and reflection rather than sensory experience. With a few notable exceptions, philosophers believed that mathematics, logic and philosophy were all a priori. Although the seeds of doubt were planted earlier on, by the early twentieth century, philosophers were widely skeptical of the idea that there was any nontrivial existence of a priori knowledge. By the mid to late twentieth century, it became fashionable to doubt the existence of any kind of a priori knowledge at all. Since many think that philosophy is an a priori discipline if it is any kind of discipline at all, the questions about a priori knowledge are fundamental to our understanding of philosophy itself.
What Place for the A Priori?
Author: Michael Shaffer
Publisher: Open Court
ISBN: 0812697413
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
This book deals with questions about the nature of a priori knowledge and its relation to empirical knowledge. Until the twentieth century, it was more or less taken for granted that there was such a thing as a priori knowledge, that is, knowledge whose source is in reason and reflection rather than sensory experience. With a few notable exceptions, philosophers believed that mathematics, logic and philosophy were all a priori. Although the seeds of doubt were planted earlier on, by the early twentieth century, philosophers were widely skeptical of the idea that there was any nontrivial existence of a priori knowledge. By the mid to late twentieth century, it became fashionable to doubt the existence of any kind of a priori knowledge at all. Since many think that philosophy is an a priori discipline if it is any kind of discipline at all, the questions about a priori knowledge are fundamental to our understanding of philosophy itself.
Publisher: Open Court
ISBN: 0812697413
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
This book deals with questions about the nature of a priori knowledge and its relation to empirical knowledge. Until the twentieth century, it was more or less taken for granted that there was such a thing as a priori knowledge, that is, knowledge whose source is in reason and reflection rather than sensory experience. With a few notable exceptions, philosophers believed that mathematics, logic and philosophy were all a priori. Although the seeds of doubt were planted earlier on, by the early twentieth century, philosophers were widely skeptical of the idea that there was any nontrivial existence of a priori knowledge. By the mid to late twentieth century, it became fashionable to doubt the existence of any kind of a priori knowledge at all. Since many think that philosophy is an a priori discipline if it is any kind of discipline at all, the questions about a priori knowledge are fundamental to our understanding of philosophy itself.
Kant's Theory of A Priori Knowledge
Author: Robert Greenberg
Publisher: Penn State Press
ISBN: 0271040475
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
The prevailing interpretation of Kant’s First Critique in Anglo-American philosophy views his theory of a priori knowledge as basically a theory about the possibility of empirical knowledge (or experience), or the a priori conditions for that possibility (the representations of space and time and the categories). Instead, Robert Greenberg argues that Kant is more fundamentally concerned with the possibility of a priori knowledge—the very possibility of the possibility of empirical knowledge in the first place. Greenberg advances four central theses:(1) the Critique is primarily concerned about the possibility, or relation to objects, of a priori, not empirical knowledge, and Kant’s theory of that possibility is defensible; (2) Kant’s transcendental ontology must be distinct from the conditions of the possibility of a priori knowledge; (3) the functions of judgment, in Kant’s discussion of the Table of Judgments, should be seen according to his transcendental logic as having content, not as being just logical forms of judgment making; (4) Kant’s distinction between and connection of ordering relations (Verhaltnisse) and reference relations (Beziehungen) have to be kept in mind to avoid misunderstanding the Critique. At every step of the way Greenberg contrasts his view with the major interpretations of Kant by commentators like Henry Allison, Jonathan Bennett, Paul Guyer, and Peter Strawson. Not only does this new approach to Kant present a strong challenge to these dominant interpretations, but by being more true to Kant’s own intent it holds promise for making better sense out of what have been seen as the First Critique’s discordant themes.
Publisher: Penn State Press
ISBN: 0271040475
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
The prevailing interpretation of Kant’s First Critique in Anglo-American philosophy views his theory of a priori knowledge as basically a theory about the possibility of empirical knowledge (or experience), or the a priori conditions for that possibility (the representations of space and time and the categories). Instead, Robert Greenberg argues that Kant is more fundamentally concerned with the possibility of a priori knowledge—the very possibility of the possibility of empirical knowledge in the first place. Greenberg advances four central theses:(1) the Critique is primarily concerned about the possibility, or relation to objects, of a priori, not empirical knowledge, and Kant’s theory of that possibility is defensible; (2) Kant’s transcendental ontology must be distinct from the conditions of the possibility of a priori knowledge; (3) the functions of judgment, in Kant’s discussion of the Table of Judgments, should be seen according to his transcendental logic as having content, not as being just logical forms of judgment making; (4) Kant’s distinction between and connection of ordering relations (Verhaltnisse) and reference relations (Beziehungen) have to be kept in mind to avoid misunderstanding the Critique. At every step of the way Greenberg contrasts his view with the major interpretations of Kant by commentators like Henry Allison, Jonathan Bennett, Paul Guyer, and Peter Strawson. Not only does this new approach to Kant present a strong challenge to these dominant interpretations, but by being more true to Kant’s own intent it holds promise for making better sense out of what have been seen as the First Critique’s discordant themes.
Overlooking Conventions
Author: Michael Devitt
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030706532
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
This book criticizes the methodology of the recent semantics-pragmatics debate in the theory of language and proposes an alternative. It applies this methodology to argue for a traditional view against a group of “contextualists” and “pragmatists”, including Sperber and Wilson, Bach, Carston, Recanati, Neale, and many others. The author disagrees with these theorists who hold that the meaning of the sentence in an utterance never, or hardly ever, yields its literal truth-conditional content, even after disambiguation and reference fixing; it needs to be pragmatically supplemented in context. The standard methodology of this debate is to consult intuitions. The book argues that theories should be tested against linguistic usage. Theoretical distinctions, however intuitive, need to be scientifically motivated. Also we should not be guided by Grice’s “Modified Occam’s Razor”, Ruhl’s “Monosemantic Bias”, or other such strategies for “meaning denialism”. From this novel perspective, the striking examples of context relativity that motivate contextualists and pragmatists typically exemplify semantic rather than pragmatic properties. In particular, polysemous phenomena should typically be treated as semantic ambiguity. The author argues that conventions have been overlooked, that there’s no extensive “semantic underdetermination” and that the new theoretical framework of “truth-conditional pragmatics” is a mistake.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030706532
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
This book criticizes the methodology of the recent semantics-pragmatics debate in the theory of language and proposes an alternative. It applies this methodology to argue for a traditional view against a group of “contextualists” and “pragmatists”, including Sperber and Wilson, Bach, Carston, Recanati, Neale, and many others. The author disagrees with these theorists who hold that the meaning of the sentence in an utterance never, or hardly ever, yields its literal truth-conditional content, even after disambiguation and reference fixing; it needs to be pragmatically supplemented in context. The standard methodology of this debate is to consult intuitions. The book argues that theories should be tested against linguistic usage. Theoretical distinctions, however intuitive, need to be scientifically motivated. Also we should not be guided by Grice’s “Modified Occam’s Razor”, Ruhl’s “Monosemantic Bias”, or other such strategies for “meaning denialism”. From this novel perspective, the striking examples of context relativity that motivate contextualists and pragmatists typically exemplify semantic rather than pragmatic properties. In particular, polysemous phenomena should typically be treated as semantic ambiguity. The author argues that conventions have been overlooked, that there’s no extensive “semantic underdetermination” and that the new theoretical framework of “truth-conditional pragmatics” is a mistake.
Current Controversies in Epistemology
Author: Ram Neta
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136339779
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Epistemology is one of the oldest, yet still one of the most active, areas of philosophical research today. There currently exists many annotated tomes of primary sources, and a handful of single-authored introductions to the field, but there is no book that captures epistemology’s dynamic growth and lively debates for a student audience. In this volume, eight leading philosophers debate four topics central to recent research in epistemology: The A Priori: C. S. I. Jenkins and Michael Devitt The A Posteriori: Richard Fumerton and Nicholas Silins The Regress of Justification: Declan Smithies and Peter Klein Skepticism: Anthony Brueckner and Ernest Sosa Ram Neta’s introduction to the volume, descriptions of each chapter, annotated bibliographies for each controversy, and supplemental guide to further controversies in epistemology (with bibliographies) help provide clearer and richer views of active controversies for all readers.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136339779
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Epistemology is one of the oldest, yet still one of the most active, areas of philosophical research today. There currently exists many annotated tomes of primary sources, and a handful of single-authored introductions to the field, but there is no book that captures epistemology’s dynamic growth and lively debates for a student audience. In this volume, eight leading philosophers debate four topics central to recent research in epistemology: The A Priori: C. S. I. Jenkins and Michael Devitt The A Posteriori: Richard Fumerton and Nicholas Silins The Regress of Justification: Declan Smithies and Peter Klein Skepticism: Anthony Brueckner and Ernest Sosa Ram Neta’s introduction to the volume, descriptions of each chapter, annotated bibliographies for each controversy, and supplemental guide to further controversies in epistemology (with bibliographies) help provide clearer and richer views of active controversies for all readers.
Reading Putnam
Author: Maria Baghramian
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136302174
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
Hilary Putnam is one of the world’s leading philosophers. His highly original and often provocative ideas have set the agenda for a variety of debates in philosophy of science, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. His now famous philosophical thought experiments, such as the ‘Twin earth’ and ‘the brains in the vat’ have become part of the established canon in philosophy and cognitive science. Reading Putnam is an outstanding overview and assessment of Hilary Putnam’s work by a team of international contributors, and includes replies by Putnam himself. Divided into clear sections, it contains chapters on key aspects of Putnam’s large body of writing, including: Scientific realism and the changes that Putnam’s thought has undergone on this topic analyticity and ontology, including the important interconnections between the views of Putnam and Quine Putnam’s arguments concerning externalist views of meaning and reference, questions of conceptual relativity, and his preoccupation with ethics through a denial of the fact–value dichotomy Putnam’s developing views on perception. Offering an excellent survey of Putnam’s work, Reading Putnam is essential for those studying philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science, as well as for anyone interested in contemporary philosophy.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136302174
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
Hilary Putnam is one of the world’s leading philosophers. His highly original and often provocative ideas have set the agenda for a variety of debates in philosophy of science, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. His now famous philosophical thought experiments, such as the ‘Twin earth’ and ‘the brains in the vat’ have become part of the established canon in philosophy and cognitive science. Reading Putnam is an outstanding overview and assessment of Hilary Putnam’s work by a team of international contributors, and includes replies by Putnam himself. Divided into clear sections, it contains chapters on key aspects of Putnam’s large body of writing, including: Scientific realism and the changes that Putnam’s thought has undergone on this topic analyticity and ontology, including the important interconnections between the views of Putnam and Quine Putnam’s arguments concerning externalist views of meaning and reference, questions of conceptual relativity, and his preoccupation with ethics through a denial of the fact–value dichotomy Putnam’s developing views on perception. Offering an excellent survey of Putnam’s work, Reading Putnam is essential for those studying philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science, as well as for anyone interested in contemporary philosophy.
The Philosopher's Toolkit
Author: Peter S. Fosl
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119103223
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 377
Book Description
A new edition of the bestselling guide to the study of philosophy: the ideal intellectual ‘toolkit’ for sharpening analytical skills and building philosophical acuity Whether used as a guide to basic principles or a resource for key concepts and methods, The Philosopher's Toolkit equips readers with all the intellectual ‘tools’ necessary for engaging closely with philosophical argument and developing fluency in the methods and language of philosophical inquiry. Featuring accessible explanations, practical examples, and expert guidance, this text empowers readers to understand traditional philosophical thinking and to engage with new ideas. Focuses on the practical methods and concepts necessary for philosophical inquiry Presents a versatile resource for both novice and advanced students in areas of philosophy, critical theory, and rhetoric Adopts a pluralistic approach to teaching philosophy, making this a suitable resource for many courses Delivers extensive cross-referenced entries, recommended readings, and updated online resources Covers an array of topics, from basic tools of argumentation to sophisticated philosophical principles Fully revised and updated to include new topics and entries as well as expanded recommended reading lists to encourage further study
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119103223
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 377
Book Description
A new edition of the bestselling guide to the study of philosophy: the ideal intellectual ‘toolkit’ for sharpening analytical skills and building philosophical acuity Whether used as a guide to basic principles or a resource for key concepts and methods, The Philosopher's Toolkit equips readers with all the intellectual ‘tools’ necessary for engaging closely with philosophical argument and developing fluency in the methods and language of philosophical inquiry. Featuring accessible explanations, practical examples, and expert guidance, this text empowers readers to understand traditional philosophical thinking and to engage with new ideas. Focuses on the practical methods and concepts necessary for philosophical inquiry Presents a versatile resource for both novice and advanced students in areas of philosophy, critical theory, and rhetoric Adopts a pluralistic approach to teaching philosophy, making this a suitable resource for many courses Delivers extensive cross-referenced entries, recommended readings, and updated online resources Covers an array of topics, from basic tools of argumentation to sophisticated philosophical principles Fully revised and updated to include new topics and entries as well as expanded recommended reading lists to encourage further study
Analyticity and a Priority Quine's Rejections of Two Dogmas
Author: Serap Eldere Keles
Publisher: Sentez Yayıncılık
ISBN: 6257906385
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 45
Book Description
Analyticity and a Priority Quint's Rejections of Two Dogmas This work will present a conceptual background and show how the line between analytic and synthetic propositions success-fully was drawn throughout early modern and followed by contemporary philosophy. In the traditionalists' interpretation, we will see how Quine dismisses the synonymous contents of analytic statements and why he unnecessarily denies any possibility of analytic statements that are a priori justified. The second wend of Quine's dlytMlelll will be scrutinized along with the discussion of his thesis, that'no statement is immune to revision'. We will see how Quine's argument leads him only to deadlock, which he primarily tries to avoid. At the end of this book, several approaches will be proposed where the analyticity and a priority are clearly distinguished from the empirical justifi-cation. By and large, Quine's arguments against a priority and the purported separation of analytic and synthetic statements will be critically analysed.
Publisher: Sentez Yayıncılık
ISBN: 6257906385
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 45
Book Description
Analyticity and a Priority Quint's Rejections of Two Dogmas This work will present a conceptual background and show how the line between analytic and synthetic propositions success-fully was drawn throughout early modern and followed by contemporary philosophy. In the traditionalists' interpretation, we will see how Quine dismisses the synonymous contents of analytic statements and why he unnecessarily denies any possibility of analytic statements that are a priori justified. The second wend of Quine's dlytMlelll will be scrutinized along with the discussion of his thesis, that'no statement is immune to revision'. We will see how Quine's argument leads him only to deadlock, which he primarily tries to avoid. At the end of this book, several approaches will be proposed where the analyticity and a priority are clearly distinguished from the empirical justifi-cation. By and large, Quine's arguments against a priority and the purported separation of analytic and synthetic statements will be critically analysed.
Philosophies of Place
Author: Peter D. Hershock
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 082487658X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Humanity takes up space. Human beings, like many other species, also transform spaces. What is perhaps uniquely human is the disposition to qualitatively transform spaces into places that are charged with distinctive kinds of intergenerational significance. There is a profound, felt difference between a house as domestic space and a home as familial place or between the summit of a mountain one has climbed for the first time and the “same” rock pinnacle celebrated in ancestral narratives. Contemporary philosophical uses of the word “place” often pivot on the distinction between “space” and “place” formalized by geographer-philosopher Yi-fu Tuan, who suggested that places incorporate the experiences and aspirations of a people over the course of their moral and aesthetic engagement with sites and locations. While spaces afford possibilities for different kinds of presence—physical, emotional, cognitive, dramatic, spiritual—places emerge as different ways of being present, fuse over time, and saturate a locale with distinctively collaborative patterns of significance. This approach to issues of place, however, is emblematic of what Edward S. Casey has argued are convictions about the primacy of absolute space and time that evolved along with the progressive dominance of the scientific imagination and modern imaginations of the universal. The recent reappearance of place in Western philosophy represents a turn away from abstract and a priori reasoning and back toward phenomenal experience and the primacy of embodied and emplaced intelligence. Places are enacted through the sustainably shared practices of mutually-responsive and mutually-vulnerable agents and are as numerous in kind as we are divergent in the patterns of values and intentions. The contributors to this volume draw on resources from Asian, European, and North American traditions of thought to engage in intercultural reflection on the significance of place in philosophy and of the place of philosophy itself in the cultural, social, economic, and political domains of contemporary life. The conversation of place that results explores the meaning of intercultural philosophy, the critical interplay of place and personal identity, the meaning of appropriate emplacement, the shared place of politics and religion, and the nature of the emotionally emplaced body.
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 082487658X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Humanity takes up space. Human beings, like many other species, also transform spaces. What is perhaps uniquely human is the disposition to qualitatively transform spaces into places that are charged with distinctive kinds of intergenerational significance. There is a profound, felt difference between a house as domestic space and a home as familial place or between the summit of a mountain one has climbed for the first time and the “same” rock pinnacle celebrated in ancestral narratives. Contemporary philosophical uses of the word “place” often pivot on the distinction between “space” and “place” formalized by geographer-philosopher Yi-fu Tuan, who suggested that places incorporate the experiences and aspirations of a people over the course of their moral and aesthetic engagement with sites and locations. While spaces afford possibilities for different kinds of presence—physical, emotional, cognitive, dramatic, spiritual—places emerge as different ways of being present, fuse over time, and saturate a locale with distinctively collaborative patterns of significance. This approach to issues of place, however, is emblematic of what Edward S. Casey has argued are convictions about the primacy of absolute space and time that evolved along with the progressive dominance of the scientific imagination and modern imaginations of the universal. The recent reappearance of place in Western philosophy represents a turn away from abstract and a priori reasoning and back toward phenomenal experience and the primacy of embodied and emplaced intelligence. Places are enacted through the sustainably shared practices of mutually-responsive and mutually-vulnerable agents and are as numerous in kind as we are divergent in the patterns of values and intentions. The contributors to this volume draw on resources from Asian, European, and North American traditions of thought to engage in intercultural reflection on the significance of place in philosophy and of the place of philosophy itself in the cultural, social, economic, and political domains of contemporary life. The conversation of place that results explores the meaning of intercultural philosophy, the critical interplay of place and personal identity, the meaning of appropriate emplacement, the shared place of politics and religion, and the nature of the emotionally emplaced body.
The Critique of Pure Reason: Base Plan for Transcendental Philosophy
Author: Immanuel Kant
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 519
Book Description
Immanuel Kant's 'The Critique of Pure Reason: Base Plan for Transcendental Philosophy' is a monumental work in the field of philosophy, exploring the nature of knowledge, reason, and metaphysics. Kant's complex and rigorous argumentation seeks to establish the limits of human understanding and defend the possibility of metaphysical knowledge. Through his meticulous analysis of the faculties of the mind, Kant presents a groundbreaking examination of the ways in which we perceive and interpret the world around us. The book is written in a dense and academic style, with precise definitions and carefully crafted arguments, making it essential reading for anyone interested in the history of philosophy. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher of the 18th century, is widely considered one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy. His work revolutionized the field of metaphysics and epistemology, setting the stage for modern philosophical thought. Kant's background in mathematics and natural science informed his systematic approach to philosophy, as he sought to establish a rational basis for understanding the nature of reality and human cognition. I highly recommend 'The Critique of Pure Reason' to readers who are interested in delving into the intricacies of philosophical inquiry. Kant's insights into the nature of reason and perception continue to influence contemporary debates in philosophy, making this text an essential resource for scholars and students alike.
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 519
Book Description
Immanuel Kant's 'The Critique of Pure Reason: Base Plan for Transcendental Philosophy' is a monumental work in the field of philosophy, exploring the nature of knowledge, reason, and metaphysics. Kant's complex and rigorous argumentation seeks to establish the limits of human understanding and defend the possibility of metaphysical knowledge. Through his meticulous analysis of the faculties of the mind, Kant presents a groundbreaking examination of the ways in which we perceive and interpret the world around us. The book is written in a dense and academic style, with precise definitions and carefully crafted arguments, making it essential reading for anyone interested in the history of philosophy. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher of the 18th century, is widely considered one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy. His work revolutionized the field of metaphysics and epistemology, setting the stage for modern philosophical thought. Kant's background in mathematics and natural science informed his systematic approach to philosophy, as he sought to establish a rational basis for understanding the nature of reality and human cognition. I highly recommend 'The Critique of Pure Reason' to readers who are interested in delving into the intricacies of philosophical inquiry. Kant's insights into the nature of reason and perception continue to influence contemporary debates in philosophy, making this text an essential resource for scholars and students alike.
Best Works of Immanuel Kant's Philosophical Writings: [Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant/ Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay by Immanuel Kant/ The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant]
Author: Immanuel Kant
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 852
Book Description
Book 1: Explore the moral foundations of philosophy with “Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant.” Immerse yourself in Kant's ethical framework as he articulates the fundamental principles that govern moral reasoning, emphasizing the importance of universal maxims and the concept of duty. Book 2: Contemplate the vision of lasting peace in “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay by Immanuel Kant.” Kant's essay delves into the philosophical exploration of achieving perpetual peace among nations. His ideas on international relations and governance continue to influence political thought and diplomacy. Book 3: Engage with the cornerstone of transcendental philosophy in “The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant.” Kant's magnum opus revolutionizes metaphysics by examining the nature of human knowledge and the limits of reason. This profound work lays the groundwork for Kant's critical philosophy, addressing the synthesis of empirical experience and a priori concepts.
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 852
Book Description
Book 1: Explore the moral foundations of philosophy with “Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant.” Immerse yourself in Kant's ethical framework as he articulates the fundamental principles that govern moral reasoning, emphasizing the importance of universal maxims and the concept of duty. Book 2: Contemplate the vision of lasting peace in “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay by Immanuel Kant.” Kant's essay delves into the philosophical exploration of achieving perpetual peace among nations. His ideas on international relations and governance continue to influence political thought and diplomacy. Book 3: Engage with the cornerstone of transcendental philosophy in “The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant.” Kant's magnum opus revolutionizes metaphysics by examining the nature of human knowledge and the limits of reason. This profound work lays the groundwork for Kant's critical philosophy, addressing the synthesis of empirical experience and a priori concepts.