A publication by Professor Margenau is always of interest to persons concerned with philosophy of science. This is especially true, however, of his recently published book, The Nature of Physical Reality; for this book, dealing with basic epistemological problems arising from the development of modern quantum mechanics, is the most comprehensive and most systematic formulation of its author's philosophical position and is at the same time conceived as a “challenge” to “uncritical realism, unadorned operationalism, and radical empiricism”—to points of view, (...) that is, which Professor Margenau regards as “outmoded and in disharmony with the successful phases of contemporary physics”. (shrink)

“My only pride is that I am a human being—ein Mensch.” So Kant wrote in one of his Marginalia in his copy of the “Beobachtungen über das Gefühl des Schönen und Erhabenen” of 1764. And he confessed that he had learned from Rousseau “to honor man.” But we may well ask, What really is at issue here?

The subtitle of this book—Letzbegründung, Subjektivität und praktische Vernunft im transzendentalen Idealismus—clearly defines the topic of this work of 296 closely argued pages. What the author attempts is a basic criticism of transcendental philosophy with respect to the intrinsic beginning of that philosophy in the different interpretations of Fichte and Husserl.

This book is, in effect, a supplement to the author’s The Search for Concreteness: Reflections on Hegel and Whitehead. It deals with a problematic which is not merely Hegelian or merely Whiteheadian. The discussions of the points of view of Peirce, Popper, Wieman, and of other “perspectives” is proof of this. But, as the author states, his concern is “to salvage the core of the Hegelian account of concrete actuality as grasped a prior by setting it within a context in (...) which hypothetical reason is also accorded a clearly defined role.”. (shrink)

In the introduction the author states that his aim is “to determine whether Kant’s moral thought should be called ‘teleological’.” In his conclusion he admits that “several puzzling aspects of Kant’s moral thought have been illuminated [and] several erroneous interpretations have been corrected.” Both statements are true. But it is also true that some problems still remain.

Philosophy of science and, more specifically, philosophy of quantum physics can be but special fields of a general philosophy of knowledge; and the problems arising in these fields can be evaluated properly only when they are seen under the perspective of the whole range of human knowledge. This paper deals with problems of quantum physics and, in particular, with the problem of scientific objects in quantum physics from the epistemological point of view previously defined in the author's books, A Philosophy (...) of Science and The Basis and Structure of Knowledge. The argument of the paper, however, has not been stated before in the direct and concise manner here attempted and may therefore contain elements of novelty even for those readers who are familiar with the books just mentioned. (shrink)

This book, Volume 21 of the Synthese Historical Library, is one of the more important publications in recent years pertaining to Kant’s philosophy. It deals specifically with Kant’s precritical writings, his disavowal of the Leibnizian conception of space and the emergence of Kant’s own epistemological position. Miss Buroker develops her arguments forcefully, clearly, and with a philosophical sensitivity that is quite exceptional.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and (...) made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. (shrink)

Although published first, this is Volume IV of a new and most timely edition of Hegel’s Collected Works. The entire set will consist of at least 32 volumes. Taking the volume now at hand as a fair sample of what is to come, we can expect not only a handsome, well printed and attractively bound set, but, most importantly, a distinctively scholarly collection that should be a great boon to Hegel scholarship the world over.

In a paper recently published in this quarterly I argued that modern quantum physics, as an integrated system of laws, supplements and completes in purely quantitative terms the fragmentary order of first-person experience, removing in a unique way ambiguities otherwise encountered at the level of common-sense things; and I contended that the choice of a different selective operator—purpose or value, let us say, rather than quantity—might entail an entirely different range and system of order. It is now my intention to (...) follow up this contention and to indicate at least in outline form some of the implications and possibilities of such a program; for it is possible that this undertaking may bring into new perspective some of the crucial problems which have vexed philosophers at all times when they have dealt with normative propositions and moral judgments. (shrink)