Rescher on the Justification of Rationality

Authors

  • Harvey Siegel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v14i1.2523

Keywords:

rationality, normativity, justification, epistemology, pragmatism

Abstract

In his recent book Rationality, Nicholas Rescher offers a provocative attempt to justify rationality. In this paper I critically assess that attempt. After clarifying the philosophical problem at issue, I examine Rescher's effort to solve it. I argue that Rescher's justification succeeds, but that he mistakenly characterizes it as pragmatic. It succeeds only if it is understood non-pragmatically. Consequently, Rescher must give up either his justificatory argument, or his commitment to a pragmatic justification.

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Published

1992-01-01

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (1992)

Section

Articles

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