American Philosophic Naturalism in the Twentieth CenturyJohn Joseph Ryder This comprehensive collection, bringing together significant essays by leading philosophers of the twentieth century, represents one prominent school of American thought - philosophic naturalism. Naturalism holds that nature is objective and can be studied to gain knowledge that is not determined by methodology, perspective, belief, or theory. For the naturalist, "nature" is an all-encompassing concept; nothing is other than natural and any notion of a supernatural realm is rejected. Naturalism, however, cannot be equated with materialistic reductionism or strict determinism. Certain nonmaterial aspects of human existence - thoughts, feelings, meanings, values, beliefs, ideals, and free will - are included within the scope of the naturalist's approach. John Ryder divides this work into five parts, which demonstrate the range of naturalistic inquiry: (1) conceptions of nature; (2) nature, experience, and method; (3) values ethical and social; (4) values aesthetic and religious; and (5) naturalism and contemporary philosophy. The distinguished contributors are: Justus Buchler, Morris Cohen, John Dewey, Abraham Edel, Marvin Farber, Sidney Hook, Paul Kurtz, John Lachs, Corliss Lamont, Thelma Lavine, Peter Manicas, John McDermott, Ernest Nagel, W.V.O. Quine, John Herman Randall, Jr., George Santayana, Meyer Schapiro, Roy Wood Sellars, Evelyn Shirk, and F.J.E. Woodbridge. For students and scholars alike, American Philosophic Naturalism in the Twentieth Century is an excellent introduction to and overview of an important school of philosophy. |
Contents
Section 1Nature Discerned | 29 |
Nature Unified and Mind Discerned | 43 |
Reformed Materialism and Intrinsic Endurance | 79 |
Copyright | |
25 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
activity actual aesthetic American analysis Aristotle artistic aseity assertion become belief called causal character choice conception concerned consequences context continuity culture democracy determinate developed distinction domain empirical empiricism epistemology Ernest Nagel ethical evidence existence experience experienced expression fact function George Santayana human idea ideal individual inquiry integrity intellectual interpretation intrinsic endurance involved John Dewey judgment knowledge language libertarian living logical principles Marvin Farber material materialist mathematics meaning metaphysical mind mode modern moral natural complex naturalistic notion objects observation sentence ontological organism person phenomenology philosophical naturalism philosophy physical possible problem proceiver proceptive propositions psychological qualities question rational reality reason reflection relations religion religious scientific method sense Sidney Hook simply situation social society Spinoza statements structure subject matter supernatural theory things thought traditional truth understanding unification University values W. V. O. Quine