Online research in philosophy

This is a critical review of Robert Innis’ Pragmatism and the Forms of Sense: Language, Perception, Technic. In this book, one of Michael Polanyi’s key preoccupations is related to the ideas of a number of thinkers, including Charles Peirce, John Dewey and Ernst Cassirer.

What basis do we have for condemning the Aztec custom of human sacrifice, the Chinese tradition of foot-binding, or the African practice of female genital mutilation? What can we learn from the moral traditions of other cultures? Addressing such questions, Moral Measures is a clear, fresh and accessible introduction to ethics which carefully illuminates the difficult issues surrounding cross-cultural ethics and moral thought. By examining Eastern and Western moral traditions, J. E. Tiles explores the basis for determining ethical measures of (...) conduct across different cultures. Drawing on a rich array of ethical thinkers, including Aristotle, Kant and Confucius, Tiles argues that ethical problems are shared by apparently opposed moral traditions and that there is much to be learned by comparing them. (shrink)

During the first half of this century, John Dewey's highly original philosophy exerted an important influence on both academic philosophy and educational thinking in the United States. Between the two world wars he acquired a national reputation as political thinker and activist which has not been matched since by an academic philosopher in the United States. Although his academic influence began to wane with the rise of his career as a political journalist, a recent revival of interest in Dewey's academic (...) work has taken place. The ongoing assessment and appropriation of a philosopher's thought require not only the texts of his work, but also the best critical appraisals of that work. These four volumes gather, from a variety of sources across several disciplines, ninety-six articles which together constitute a comprehensive critical commentary on Dewey's work. Those who wish to evaluate and appreciate Dewey's contributions to psychology, education, political theory, epistemology, ethics, value theory, aesthetics and metaphysics will find these volumes vital and lasting resources. Each volume's introductory survey orchestrates the contributions in a way which shows Dewey's importance to contemporary political and intellectual culture. (shrink)

Abstract To understand the impact which the newly self?conscious technology of information is likely to have, and to develop that technology effectively, it is necessary to appreciate two previous revolutions in information technology, those which followed the introductions of writing and of printing. Understanding the role which these technologies have in our intellectual lives may help to avoid the misconceptions which are generated by the temptation to think of the instruments of communication as having a life independent of the use (...) to which humans put those artifacts. (shrink)

This book is available either individually, or as part of the specially-priced Arguments of the Philosphers Collection.