Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason
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Inside the Epistemological Cave All Bets Are
Inside the epistemological cave all bets are off Colin Wight Department of Politics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Exeter, The Queen’s Drive, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QJ, UK. E-mail: [email protected] In this short rejoinder to Friedrich Kratochwil’s plea for a ‘pragmatic approach to theory building’, I argue that, despite his claims to the contrary, his position essentially rests on a curious form of foundationalism and relativism. The problem, as I identify it, is that Kratochwil’s attempt to move contemporary debate forward fails because he treats the issue only in epistemological terms. Kratochwil is deeply suspicious of the very idea of the ‘real world’and reduces it to an infinitely malleable construct of our ways of thinking and talking about it. This means that he remains trapped in the epistemological cave and is condemned to an endless quest to solve problems that have no solution. But the real world is not simply something that we think and talk about but, rather, we engage with it in practice and as such it offers resistance to our attempts to grasp it. Hence, it is not a subject without a voice in the global conversation. This is an important theoretical limit, particularly in relation to contemporary issues surrounding global environmental problems. Journal of International Relations and Development (2007) 10, 40–56. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jird.1800109 Keywords: dogmatism epistemology; foundationalism; reality; relativism; theoretical pluralism; truth Introduction When, in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, the prisoner released from his chains returns to inform his fellow inmates that he has discovered that their world is an illusion, he could be forgiven for being surprised by their response. -
UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations
UC San Diego UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Pluralism and Realism Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n611357 Author Evpak, Matthew Publication Date 2018 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO Pluralism and Realism A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy by Matthew Evpak Committee in charge: Professor Gila Sher, Chair Professor Samuel Buss Professor Andrew Kehler Professor Donald Rutherford Professor Clinton Tolley 2018 The Dissertation of Matthew Evpak is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Chair University of California San Diego 2018 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................................................................... -
REALISM and ITS IMPLICATIONS: Real/Reality/Realism: the Beginning Student Will Do Well to Get Clearly in Mind the Meaning of Such Terms As Real, Reality, and Realism
REALISM AND ITS IMPLICATIONS: Real/Reality/Realism: The beginning student will do well to get clearly in mind the meaning of such terms as real, reality, and realism. The real is the actual, or the existing. The term refers to things or events belonging to the order of nature or existing in their own right, as opposed to the imaginary, the artificial, the fictitious. Real refers to "what is." Reality is the state or quality of being real or actually existent, in contrast to what is mere appearance. In a popular sense, realism may mean devotion to fact and details as opposed to the imaginary. In philosophy, however, the word is used in a more technical sense. WHAT IS REALISM? Realism, in a philosophical sense, is the doctrine that the objects of our senses are real in their own right in that they exist independent of their being known or related to mind. Realism ' is the disposition to think and to act in the light of things as they ' are; it is a preoccupation with fact or reality; it emphasizes the objective and the scientific as opposed to the subjective and the speculative. For the realist the universe is so inexorably "out there" that the only thing we can do is to make the best terms possible with it. The realist attempts to come to terms with the universe, not to interpret the world in terms of his experience or in spiritual terms. A contemporary British realist, Professor John MacMurray, says: "We cannot get away from the primary fact that there is a distinction between things and ideas. -
SCIENTIFIC REALISM in the AGE of STRING THEORY Richard Dawid
SCIENTIFIC REALISM IN THE AGE OF STRING THEORY Richard Dawid String theory currently is the only viable candidate for a unified description of all known natural forces. This article tries to demonstrate that the fundamental structural and methodological differences that set string theory apart from other physical theories have important philosophical consequences. Focussing on implications for the realism debate in philosophy of science, it is argued that both poles of that debate become untenable in the context of string theory. On one side the claim of underdetermination of scientific theories, which represents a pivotal element of empiricism, looses its appeal. On the other side the dissolution of any meaningful notion of an external ontological object destroys the basis for conventional versions of scientific realism. String theory seems to suggest an intermediate position akin to Structural Realism that is based on a newly emerging principle, to be called the principle of theoretical uniqueness. An appreciation of string theory’s considerable impact on basic conceptions of philosophy of science can also contribute to a clearer picture of string theory’s status and relevance in a scientific context. 1: Introduction In one respect quantum mechanics is like the music of Arnold Schönberg: Its restricted accessibility awards eternal youth. The conception that was created 75 years ago to replace the failing laws of classical physics in the microscopic world still looks fresh and exciting and remains the paragon of a modern scientific theory. The unshakable status of the quantum principle as the grand enigma at the base of modern physical inquiry has a peculiar consequence however: It keeps the intellectual community outside a small group of experts strangely insensitive to the significance of the newer developments in foundational physics. -
Between Realism and Rortianism
Epistemology R R R By Cora Diamond yoe who reads aes oas essay reedo rely ad Trh R R R R R I. Conant and Rorty on realism: how Conant sets up the issue and how Rorty responds irs will desrie he dispe ewee Rory ad oa ao realis H R R R T room R R between R R R T H R R Realism 1. The thesis that the Thing-in-Itself is a condition of the possibility of knowledge T T Cora Diamond is Kenan Professor of Philosophy emerita at the University of Virginia. Her works have analyzed philosophical problems in many areas, including Witgenstein, Frege, Philosophy of Language, Ethics, Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Literature. Her notable works include “What Nonsense Might Be”, an analysis of Fregean nonsense, as well as numerous writings on all of Witgenstein’s lifetime work. She has also been noted for her writing on animal rights, including the article “Eating Meat and Eating People” published by Cambridge University Press. The Harvard Review of Philosophy vol.XXI 2014 HRP Vol 21.indd 56 12/1/14 8:56 AM R R 57 of appearances about the way the world is in itself. think knowledge Realism 2. The thesis -
Kant+(Guyer).Pdf
Kant ‘Kant is an absolutely first-rate general introduction to Kant’s Critical Philosophy. Paul Guyer’s interpretations are extremely well-supported, carefully and crisply argued, and highly insightful.’ Robert Hanna, University of Colorado ‘An impressive overview of the various strands of Kant’s philosophy.With great skill Guyer manages to compress Kant’s critical thought into a few hundred pages. This book will provide an excellent introduction to Kant’s thought.’ Philip Stratton-Lake, University of Reading ‘The book is impressive in very many ways. It demonstrates a mastery of the Kantian corpus and an ability to explain exceedingly complex argu- ments in a clear and accessible fashion. I think it will become essential reading for students wanting to grasp the broad sweep of Kant’s thought without losing much by way of depth.’ Andrew Chignell, Cornell University ‘That Guyer is able to cover this much material, clearly and without over- simplification, in a single, reasonably sized volume represents a unique accomplishment, which should prove to be extremely useful to a broad audience.’ Eric Watkins, University of California, San Diego Routledge Philosophers Edited by Brian Leiter University of Texas, Austin Routledge Philosophers is a major series of introductions to the great Western philosophers. Each book places a major philosopher or thinker in historical context, explains and assesses their key arguments, and considers their legacy. Additional features include a chronology of major dates and events, chapter summaries, annotated suggestions for further reading, and a glossary of tech- nical terms. An ideal starting point for those new to philosophy, they are also essential reading for those interested in the subject at any level. -
Bennett Reimer's Philosophy of Music Educat
University of Mississippi eGrove Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2015 The Historical Impact Of Philosophical Naturalism On American Aesthetic Education: Bennett Reimer’s Philosophy Of Music Education As Aesthetic Education Jeremy Edwin Scarbrough University of Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd Part of the Music Education Commons Recommended Citation Scarbrough, Jeremy Edwin, "The Historical Impact Of Philosophical Naturalism On American Aesthetic Education: Bennett Reimer’s Philosophy Of Music Education As Aesthetic Education" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 706. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/706 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE HISTORICAL IMPACT OF PHILOSOPHICAL NATURALISM ON AMERICAN AESTHETIC EDUCATION: BENNETT REIMER’S PHILOSOPHY OF MUSIC EDUCATION AS AESTHETIC EDUCATION A Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Music The University of Mississippi by JEREMY EDWIN SCARBROUGH June 2015 Copyright Jeremy Edwin Scarbrough 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT Philosophical naturalism is the view that all of reality reduces to natural explanation. The resulting so-called fact-value split biases language against universal, objective values—where empirical observation is said to determine truth, while values are reduced to private emoting or socio-cultural human construction. This research questioned the definition of aesthetic value as determined by the music education as aesthetic education (MEAE) movement in the United States, and the justification of aesthetic education as a universally applicable and comprehensive approach to a course in general music/music appreciation. -
The Logic of Reformation: the Metaphysical Basis of John Wyclif's Theology" (2011)
Digital Commons @ George Fox University Seminary Masters Theses Seminary 1-1-2011 The logic of reformation: the metaphysical basis of John Wyclif 's theology David Manning George Fox University This research is a product of the Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Manning, David, "The logic of reformation: the metaphysical basis of John Wyclif's theology" (2011). Seminary Masters Theses. Paper 2. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/seminary_masters/2 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Seminary at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Seminary Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY THE LOGIC OF REFORMATION: THE METAPHYSICAL BASIS OF JOHN WYCLIF’S THEOLOGY A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (THEOLOGICAL STUDIES) BY DAVID MANNING PORTLAND, OR MARCH, 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I offer my gratitude to the faculty of George Fox Evangelical Seminary for their guidance and encouragement during the composition of this thesis. I thank my friends and family for their tolerance of many conversations about John Wyclif during what has been a long and sometimes painful project. Above all others, I thank my wife, Amy, for walking with me through exuberance and exasperation. This thesis could not have been completed without her love and support. -
German Idealism by Espen Hammer
GERMAN IDEALISM German Idealism is one of the most important movements in the history of philosophy. It is also increasingly acknowledged to contain the seeds of many current philosophical issues and debates. This outstanding collection of spe- cially commissioned chapters examines German idealism from several angles and assesses the renewed interest in the subject from a wide range of fields. Including discussions of the key representatives of German idealism such as Kant, Fichte and Hegel, it is structured in clear sections dealing with: metaphysics the legacy of Hegel’s philosophy Brandom and Hegel recognition and agency autonomy and nature the philosophy of German romanticism Amongst other important topics, German Idealism: Contemporary Perspectives addresses the debates surrounding the metaphysical and epistemological legacy of German idealism; its importance for understanding recent debates in moral and political thought; its appropriation in recent theories of language and the relationship between mind and world; and how German idealism affected sub- sequent movements such as romanticism, pragmatism, and critical theory. Contributors: Frederick Beiser, Jay Bernstein, Andrew Bowie, Richard Eldridge, Manfred Frank, Paul Franks, Sebastian Gardner, Espen Hammer, Stephen Houlgate, Terry Pinkard, Robert Pippin, Paul Redding, Fred Rush, Robert Stern. Espen Hammer is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oslo and a Reader in Philosophy at the University of Essex. He is the author of Adorno and the Political (Routledge, 2006). GERMAN IDEALISM Contemporary Perspectives Edited by Espen Hammer First published 2007 by Routledge 2 Milton Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2007. -
Some Aspects of Polanyi's Version of Realism
Some Aspects of Polanyi’s Version of Realism Dale Cannon ABSTRACT: Key Words: Michael Polanyi, realism, idealism, truth, reality, responsible commitment, autonomy of thought, intrinsic meaning, tacit knowing, knowing by acquaintance, knowing by representation, Kant. This essay attempts to clarify certain aspects of Polanyi’s version of comprehensive realism: the irreducible role of responsible personal commitment as transcending human subjectivity in any mean- ingful reference to transcendent reality, and thus for any coherent realism; realism as a fundamental presupposition of intellectual responsibility in the humanities and in the sciences; a conception of intrinsic (vs. extrinsic, anthropocentrically projected) meaning characterizing real things, in greater and lesser degrees; a conception of embodied tacit knowing as a relational, acquaintance knowing that achieves contact with reality-in-itself, transcending our grasp – hence, transcending our representa- tional or propositional knowing (which is always reality-as-constituted or construed-by-us). I. Introduction Among Polanyi interpreters, there is little controversy over whether Polanyi was a realist. But in what sense he was a realist and how extensive was the range of his realism is a matter of considerable ongoing controversy. This small paper is an attempt to address four aspects of the controversy, but not all of the aspects of those aspects unfortunately (for lack of time and space). I have sought to articulate my remarks simply and in a relatively non-technical way. I am aware that my brief remarks may well seem fragmentary and incompletely developed, and certainly incompletely justified, to some readers. A full account and justification of my interpretation of Polanyi would take a small monograph, I am sure. -
Living Realism
Radical Orthodoxy: Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Vol. 1, Number 3 (September 2013): 538-59. ISSN 2050-392X Living Realism Don Adams “As a method Realism is a complete failure…. Life goes faster than Realism.” (Oscar Wilde, “The Decay of Lying” 991-2) “The very essence of real actuality – that is, of the completely real – is process.” (Alfred North Whitehead, Adventures of Ideas 274) “Appearance has the completeness of reality, but only as appearance. As anything other than appearance it is error.” (Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace 51) "By reality and perfection I understand the same." (Spinoza, Ethics 114) ealism in literature is a topic that has not been much debated or discussed in recent years. In contemporary theory and criticism, “Literary Realism” usually is understood to refer to the movement R in fiction and related criticism at the end of the nineteenth century that purported to stay true to the facts of the everyday world and to avoid the imaginative excesses of Romanticism. The more general theoretical topic of the nature of reality as it is represented and expressed in literature is rarely addressed directly. One difficulty is that there is no easy way to distinguish clearly between representative and non-representative language in literature, as the representational in the visual arts is distinguished from the abstract and expressive. It is extremely difficult to create a work of art in verbal language that Radical Orthodoxy 1, No. 3 (September 2013). 539 is entirely or even largely non-representative of some version of recognizable reality, although Gertrude Stein and her experimental and language poet heirs certainly have made the effort. -
Downloads/KR1%20CRSPK%2011-5-29%20A.Doc
1 IV 1 Speculations 1 Speculationsspe 1 1 cul 1 1 ati 1 1 ons 1 1 IV 1 Speculations IV [email protected] www.speculations-journal.org Editors Michael Austin Paul J. Ennis Fabio Gironi Thomas Gokey Robert Jackson isbn-10 0615797865 isbn-13 978-0615797861 issn 2327-803x Designed by Thomas Gokey v 1.0 punctum books ✴ brooklyn, ny n b s a r c 2013 5 Editorial Introduction REFLECTIONS PROPOSALS 9 Lee Braver 65 Jeffrey A. Bell On Not Settlingthe Issue of Realism “The World is an Egg” Realism, Mathematics, and the Thresholds of Difference 15 Levi R. Bryant 71 Manuel DeLanda Politics and Speculative Realism Ontological Commitments 22 Graham Harman 74 Markus Gabriel The Current State of Speculative Realism The Meaning of “Existence” and the Contingency of Sense 28 Eileen A. Joy 84 Peter Gratton Weird Reading Post-Deconstructive Realism It’s About Time 35 Adam Kotsko 91 Adrian Johnston A Dangerous Supplement Points of Forced Freedom Speculative Realism, Academic Blogging, and Eleven (More) Theses on Materialism the Future of Philosophy 38 Christopher Norris 99 Paul M. Livingston Speculative Realism Realism and the Infinite Interim Report with Just a Few Caveats 48 Jon Roffe 108 John Mullarkey The Future of an Illusion How to Behave Like a Non-Philosopher Or, Speculative Versus Revisionary Metaphysics 53 Daniel Sacilotto 113 Dylan Trigg Realism and Representation “The Horror of Darkness” On the Ontological Turn Toward an Unhuman Phenomenology EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION keep speculative zeal under control, and we need a speculative will to avoid a realism amounting to little more than an encyclopaedic catalogue of the With this special issue of Speculations we wanted to existent.