The essay analyses the importance and the limits of Evolutionary Epistemology (EE). Firstly, the history of EE is shortly described — especially its history in the last century. Secondly, its main arguments are reproduced. Thirdly, the points are treated in which EE really signifies a progress in comparison with traditional epistemology. Fourthly, however, it is shown that it does not solve at all the central problem of epistemology — the validity claim of knowledge. Only a broader philosophical framework — that (...) of objective idealism — could reconcile the validity dimension with the genetic insights of EE. (shrink)

Vittorio Hösle , , | : Cet article ambitionne de comprendre la crise écologique dans sa portée métaphysique. Pour ce faire, l’auteur analyse d’abord ce qu’il considère comme l’interprétation métaphysique la plus courante de cette crise, soit la métaphysique de l’esprit, qui trouve sa source dans une lecture simpliste de la pensée de G.W.F. Hegel. Ensuite, il examine les deux principales critiques adressées à cette métaphysique de l’esprit, soit d’une part l’interprétation heideggérienne de l’histoire de l’être et, d’autre (...) part, le panthéisme naturaliste d’inspiration écologiste dont le philosophe allemand Klaus Michael Meyer-Abich est le principal représentant. Enfin, en guise de synthèse, l’auteur élabore sa propre analyse en mettant en lumière le phénomène d’éloignement croissant de la subjectivité et de l’être à l’époque moderne comme la principale source métaphysique de la présente crise écologique. | : This article aims to understand the ecological crisis in its metaphysical significance. To do so, the author first analyzes what he sees as the most common metaphysical interpretation of the crisis, viz. the metaphysics of the mind, which is rooted in a simplistic reading of the philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel. Next, he examines the two main criticisms of the metaphysics of mind, on the one hand, Heidegger’s interpretation of the history of Being and, on the other hand, the naturalistic ecologist pantheism best represented by the German philosopher Klaus Michael Meyer-Abich. Finally, by way of summary, the author develops his own analysis by highlighting the phenomenon of growing alienation of subjectivity and Being in modern times as the main metaphysical source of the current ecological crisis. (shrink)

Dieses Buch bietet die umfassende neuere Darstellung und Analyse des ganzen Hegelschen Systems. Dabei wird Hegels Philosophie in einer klaren und leichtverständlichen Sprache einer immanenten Kritik unterzogen, die sich weder in Paraphrasen erschöpft noch mit der Versicherung entgegengesetzter Behauptung ihr Ende findet. "Ein wirklich faszinierendes Werk, das das systematische Philosophieren selbst erneut zu wecken vermag" Philosophisches Jahrbuch.

In this extended essay, Vittorio Hösle develops a theory of the comical and applies it to interpret both the recurrent personae played by Woody Allen the actor and the philosophical issues addressed by Woody Allen the director in his films. Taking Henri Bergson’s analysis of laughter as a starting point, Hösle integrates aspects of other theories of laughter to construct his own more finely-articulated and expanded model. With this theory in hand, Hösle discusses the incongruity in (...) the characters played by Woody Allen and describes how these personae are realized in his work. Hösle focuses on the philosophical issues in Allen’s major films by exploring the identity problem in _Play It Again, Sam_ and _Zelig_, the shortcomings of the positivist concept of reality in _A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy_, the relation between reality and art in _The Purple Rose of Cairo_, the objective validity of morality in _Crimes and Misdemeanors_, the power of evil in _Shadows and Fog_, and the relation between art and morality in _Bullets over Broadway_. He cites Allen’s virtuosic reinterpretation of older forms of expression and his integration of the fantastic into the comic universe—elements like the giant breasts, anxious sperm, extraterrestrials, ghosts, and magicians that populate his movies—as formal moves akin to those of Aristophanes. Both an overview of Allen’s work and a philosophical analysis of laughter, Hösle’s study demonstrates why Allen’s films have more to offer us—morally, philosophically, and artistically—than just a few laughs. “In _Woody Allen_, Vittorio Hösle goes a long way toward explaining everything you wanted to know about Allen but were afraid to ask. Just why exactly is he funny, and why does his humor have a strong appeal for academics? In his comprehensive analysis of Allen’s work, Hösle outlines a workable theory of humor, illustrates his conclusions by referring to the films and prose, and points out several philosophic motifs underlying Allen’s deceptively complex comedies. Hösle’s work elevates the enjoyment of Allen’s films from guilty pleasure to satisfying intellectual engagement with an intriguing contemporary thinker and artist.” —Richard A. Blake, S.J., Boston College “Vittorio Hösle presents a compelling overview of Allen’s work in which he discusses different theories of laughter and argues for the priority of the incongruity theory as the only one able to answer the normative question, what distinguises good from bad laughter? On this theoretical basis he goes on to delve into both the humor and the philosophical profundity of Allen’s films.” —Sander Lee, Keene State College. (shrink)

Lullus (um 1235-1315) versuchte durch eine Kombinatorik der obersten allgemeinsten Begriffe alle übrigen Wahrheiten abzuleiten und in ihrem Zusammenhang anschaulich darzustellen. Die Logik hat die Aufgabe der "Entdeckung des Wahren und Falschen" und kann diese nur nach Maßgabe einer ihr vorgeordneten Reflexion auf die allen Wissenschaften zugrundeliegenden Grundbegriffe erfüllen. - Die Einleitung zeichnet Lulls Leben, seine philosophischen Grundthesen und die Wirkungsgeschichte des katalanischen Denkers nach. Der Text ist mit Ausnahme des Quästionenregisters vollständig wiedergegeben; die Editionsgeschichte wird durch Hinweise zur Textkonstitution (...) erläutert. (shrink)

The essay analyses the importance and the limits of Evolutionary Epistemology . Firstly, the history of EE is shortly described - especially its history in the last century. Secondly, its main arguments are reproduced. Thirdly, the points are treated in which EE really signifies a progress in comparison with traditional epistemology. Fourthly, however, it is shown that it does not solve at all the central problem of epistemology - the validity claim of knowledge. Only a broader philosophical framework - that (...) of objective idealism - could reconcile the validity dimension with the genetic insights of EE. (shrink)

A series of letters between a professor of philosophy and an eleven-year-old girl.

The paper deals with the peculiar nature of Anselm’s rationalism, focussing on the dialogue Cur deus homo. On the one hand, the argument in Cur deus homois based on reason alone. On the other hand, the dialogic nature of the work allows Anselm to unfold emotional states in a way that almost anticipates Kierkegaard. Anselm’s rationalism does not exclude the experience of anxiety and despair, and this is where faith comes to the rescue. Finally, God’s presence in the search is (...) shown to be logically compatible with the rationalist nature of the search. (shrink)

O presente trabalho destaca o grande valor da filosofia prática kantiana, que se constitui, sem dúvida, num marco na história da reflexão ética ocidental. Num segundo momento, o autor apresenta algumas críticas a determinadas posições kantianas, destacando, no entanto, que uma reflexão ética adequada para 0 nosso tempo terá, necessariamente, de levar em consideração a fundamentação metafísica da Ética defendida por Kant.

Eine einzige der Spezialästhetiken, nämlich die Poetik, kann versuchen, mit der Kunst zu wetteifern, die sie thematisiert, indem sie selbst in poetisch schöner Form erklärt, was gute Dichtung ist, und damit die Normen instantiiert, die sie lehrt. Die klassische Weise, dies zu tun, ist das Lehrgedicht – sowohl Boileaus L’Art Poétique als auch Alexander Popes An Essay on Criticism werden als paradigmatische Beispiele des Genres des poetologischen Lehrgedichtes gedeutet. Nach dem Niedergang dieses Genres versucht Friedrich Schlegel das Fragment und den (...) romantischen Dialog als neue Formen poetisch anspruchsvoller Literaturtheorie einzuführen. Adornos Ästhetische Theorie schließlich ist zwar ein Traktat, weist aber jene Dissonanz selbst auf, die ihm zufolge das Wesen moderner Kunst ausmacht. Damit freilich erweist sich Harmonie als auf der Metaebene unvermeidlich. (shrink)

The essay deals with an important epistemological debate in the Lucullus: Can there be remembrance of false beliefs, as Cicero argues against his interlocutor, who defends Antiochus’ position? It is shown that Antiochus, like Aristoteles, considers ‘remember’ to be a double achievement verb: Remembrance occurs only if a correct past perception is faithfully transmitted to the present. Cicero, on the other hand, insists that faithful transmission can also occur with false beliefs. The distinction seems to be analogous to that between (...) valid and sound inference in contemporary Stoic logic. Finally, I discuss differences between ancient and modern forms of skepticism, address the issue of why misremembering plays no role in the Lucullus, and find an answer in Cicero’s doctrine of the orator. (shrink)

The essay analyses an epochal change in the history of ethics - the rise of consequentialism as an alternative to earlier ethics focussing on virtues, due to the insight that sometimes virtuous behavior has deleterious consequences, while vicious behavior may benefit society. It shows that Machiavelli’s political, Mandeville’s economic and Malthus’s demographic claims are analogous. They presuppose the emergence of a new science of the social world, which is not reducible to intentions. The focus of the essay is on the (...) justifications of capitalism proposed in the 18 th century; it discusses which of them are still valid while trying to evaluate contemporary forms of capitalism. Their greatest danger is the spill-over of rational egoism from the sphere of economy to that of politics. (shrink)

The ontological distinctiveness of a work of art, which consists, among other things, in the fact that it creates its own universe, does not preclude a work of art from occasionally pointing beyond the unity of this very universe. This may take place in a direct way, say, when a statement that occurs within the context of the aesthetic universe created by the author is intelligible if it is attributed to the author herself, but not within the aesthetic universe. The (...) parabases delivered by the chorus in Old Comedy are a well-known example, and, since the transgression of illusions has a special affinity to the nature of the comical and the direct contact with the audience was expected at this point, they are aesthetically warranted. (shrink)

Foundational issues of objective idealism—the title of this treatise appears to be obsolete in a twofold sense and may from the outset count on being met with suspicion, if not with preconceived disapproval. For, first, in the present spiritual climate foundational issues generally do not enjoy excessive popularity; and, second, objective idealism appears to be virtually the epitome of a long bygone form of philosophy. The desire to attempt a foundation of this passé type of thinking, has to strike one (...) as provocative, must be disconcerting. (shrink)

Gott als Vernunft bietet einen Überblick über zentrale religionsphilosophische Fragestellungen auf der Grundlage des objektiven Idealismus. Gott erscheint in dieser Perspektive nicht als externe Autorität, die sich durch Willkürakte und Wunder offenbart, sondern als der Kern aller Vernunftansprüche, die weder naturalistisch noch konstruktivistisch reduziert werden können. In facettenreichen Texten werden einerseits direkt religionsphilosophische Themen wie der Gnadenbegriff, die Trinitätslehre, das Theodizeeproblem, das Problem der richtigen Bibeldeutung oder die Natur interreligiösen Dialoge von der Warte einer Vernunftreligion aus abgehandelt, andererseits die Konsequenzen (...) einer religiösen Deutung der Wirklichkeit für das Teleologie-, das Freiheits-, das Leib-Seele-Problem, den Geistbegriff und das historische Auftreten des Atheismus untersucht. (shrink)

O presente trabalho destaca o grande valor da filosofia prática kantiana, que se constitui, sem dúvida, num marco na história da reflexão ética ocidental. Num segundo momento, o autor apresenta algumas críticas a determinadas posições kantianas, destacando, no entanto, que uma reflexão ética adequada para 0 nosso tempo terá, necessariamente, de levar em consideração a fundamentação metafísica da Ética defendida por Kant.

The essay begins by discussing different ways of evaluating and making sense of the Soviet Revolution from Crane Brinton to Hannah Arendt. In a second part, it analyses the social, political and intellectual background of tsarist Russia that made the revolution possible. After a survey of the main changes that occurred in the Soviet Union, it appraises its ends, the means used for achieving them, and the unintended side-effects. The Marxist philosophy of history is interpreted as an ideological tool of (...) modernization attractive to societies to which the liberal form of modernization was precluded. (shrink)

The richness of Richard Rorty’s text, Alcuni usi americani di Hegel, makes it impossible to discuss here all the issues he raises, although they certainly would merit attention. I will proceed in the following manner: first, I will comment on some of Rorty’s explicit statements on Hegel and in particular discuss the vexed question of Hegel’s proper place in the history of philosophy; second, I will focus on one of the four American pragmatists Rorty relates to Hegel, namely Robert Brandom, (...) and sketch some of the basic tenets of his philosophical program; and third, I will compare Brandom’s program with the Hegelian, analyzing both the similarities and the differences. It goes without saying that, given the complexities of the two philosophies, I will be unable to render justice to their subtleties and must limit myself to some general reflections. These will make clear not only why Hegel would have to learn a lot from Brandom, but also why Brandom’s enterprise cannot yet claim to be a contemporary version of Hegel’s central ideas. (shrink)

Dans cet article, l’auteur se propose de jeter un éclairage sur ce qu’il considère être les lois essentielles ayant contribué au développement de la culture humaine depuis ses débuts jusqu’à la crise écologique actuelle. Précisément, il s’agit de mener une analyse, sous la forme d’une analyse de l’histoire des fondements culturels et historiques , des différentes conceptions du rapport entre l’être humain et la nature et du concept de nature qui se sont succédé dans l’histoire et qui se trouvent aujourd’hui (...) au coeur des sciences modernes de la nature et de la technique. Ce faisant, l’auteur aspire à contribuer à l’élaboration d’une nouvelle philosophie de la nature qui soit en mesure de faire face à la présente crise écologique. (shrink)

In Auseinandersetzung mit Thomas Nagels Mind and Cosmos, Ronald Dworkins Religion without God und Holm Tetens’ Gott denken zeigt der Aufsatz, dass der Theismus nur auf objektiv-idealistischer Grundlage eine sinnvolle Position ist, während dagegen ein nicht-theistischer objektiver Idealismus viel plausibler ist als ein Theismus ohne objektiven Idealismus. Aber er argumentiert, dass eine theistische Interpretation des objektiven Idealismus durchaus möglich, ja, natürlich ist.

"The essay discusses the question in which sense there are continuities between the pre-Soviet, the Soviet, and the post-Soviet phase of Russian culture. It discovers in the rejection of the bourgeois value system an important constant factor. Even if originally rooted in the specific orthodox Christian sensibility, it helped prepare the Soviet revolution and survived even after 1991. From the Song of Igor’s Campaign to Tolstoy’s dramas, Eisenstein’s films and his film theory, and Maxim Kantor’s iconic interpretations of the late (...) Soviet Union and its aftermath the essay tries to unveil crucial features of Russian culture. Der Aufsatz diskutiert die Frage, in welchem Sinne es Kontinuitäten zwischen der vor-sowjetischen, der sowjetischen und der post-sowjetischen Phase der russischen Kultur gibt, und entdeckt in der Ablehnung des bürgerlichen Wertesystems einen wichtigen konstanten Faktor. Auch wenn sie ursprünglich in der spezifischen orthodoxen christlichen Sensibilität verwurzelt war, half sie, die sowjetische Revolution vorzubereiten, und überlebte auch noch nach 1991. Von dem Igorlied bis hin zu Tolstois Dramen, Eisensteins Filmen und Filmtheorie sowie Maxim Kantors ikonischen Interpretationen der späten Sowjetunion und ihren Nachwirkungen enthüllt der Aufsatz entscheidende Merkmale der russischen Kultur. ". (shrink)

The essay discusses the question in which sense there are continuities between the pre-Soviet, the Soviet, and the post-Soviet phase of Russian culture. It discovers in the rejection of the bourgeois value system an important constant factor. Even if originally rooted in the specific orthodox Christian sensibility, it helped prepare the Soviet revolution and survived even after 1991. From the Song of Igor’s Campaign to Tolstoy’s dramas, Eisenstein’s films and his film theory, and Maxim Kantor’s iconic interpretations of the late (...) Soviet Union and its aftermath the essay tries to unveil crucial features of Russian culture. (shrink)

SummaryThe essay exposes, recognizes the astonishing originality, and showcases the shortcomings of Christoph Türcke’s Philosophy of Dreams, which offers a theory of the origin of religion inspired by both psychoanalysis and critical theory. Among the objections raised are the speculative nature of the enterprise, which is not sufficiently based on empirical data, the lack of knowledge concerning the transition from apes to humans, the impossibility for hallucinations to be the basic doxastic act, the exaggerated focus on dread, which is only (...) one form of the numinous experience, and on the repetition compulsion, which could hardly prove as creative as the author assumes particularly concerning the origin of sacrifice, and the confusion of genesis and validity. (shrink)

Estas páginas son un pequeño homenaje a Karl-Otto Apel. Desde el recuerdo de nuestros encuentros, pretendo hacer una aproximación a su persona, tanto desde el punto de vista intelectual, como -sobre todo- desde una perspectiva humana y personal. These pages are a small tribute to Karl-Otto Apel. From the memory of our encounters, I intend to make an approximation to his person, both from the intellectual point of view and -above all- from a human and personal perspective.

O autor mostra a necessidade de uma nova reflexão sobre a relação entre teologia, filosofia e religião nos tempos atuais. Para isso, define, primeiramente, esses três fenômenos, para depois apresentar a resposta, tanto no nível descritivo quanto no normativo, à pergunta sobre a relação entre essas três esferas.

The essay explores the development of sociobiology, its basic tenets, and its contributions to the study of human nature as well as ethics. It insists that Darwinism is more than a biological theory and presents a possibility of interpreting sociobiology as manifesting not the triumph of the selfish gene but, on the contrary, the only way in which the expansion of altruism was possible.

Name der Zeitschrift: Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie Jahrgang: 60 Heft: 1 Seiten: 1-20.