Author: Jan Westerhoff Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0192587188 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 352
Book Description
Does the real world, defined as a world of objects that exist independent of human interests, concerns, and cognitive activities, really exist? Jan Westerhoff argues that we have good reason to believe it does not. His discussion considers four main facets of the idea of the real world, ranging from the existence of a separate external and internal world (comprising various mental states congregated around a self), to the existence of an ontological foundation that grounds the existence of all the entities in the world, and the existence of an ultimately true theory that provides a final account of all there is. As Westerhoff discusses the reasons for rejecting the postulation of an external world behind our representations, he asserts that the internal world is not as epistemically transparent as is usually assumed, and that there are good reasons for adopting an anti-foundational account of ontological dependence. Drawing on conclusions from the ancient Indian philosophical system of Madhyamaka Buddhism, Westerhoff defends his stance in a purely Western philosophical framework, and affirms that ontology, and philosophy more generally, need not be conceived as providing an ultimately true theory of the world.
Author: Jan Westerhoff Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA ISBN: 0198847912 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 376
Book Description
Does the real world, defined as a world of objects that exist independent of human interests, concerns, and cognitive activities, really exist? Jan Westerhoff argues that we have good reason to believe it does not. His discussion considers four main facets of the idea of the real world, ranging from the existence of a separate external and internal world (comprising various mental states congregated around a self), to the existence of an ontological foundation that grounds the existence of all the entities in the world, and the existence of an ultimately true theory that provides a final account of all there is. As Westerhoff discusses the reasons for rejecting the postulation of an external world behind our representations, he asserts that the internal world is not as epistemically transparent as is usually assumed, and that there are good reasons for adopting an anti-foundational account of ontological dependence. Drawing on conclusions from the ancient Indian philosophical system of Madhyamaka Buddhism, Westerhoff defends his stance in a purely Western philosophical framework, and affirms that ontology, and philosophy more generally, need not be conceived as providing an ultimately true theory of the world.
Author: Jan Westerhoff Publisher: ISBN: 9780191882548 Category : Ontology Languages : en Pages : 384
Book Description
The book is concerned with the existence of the real world, that is, with the existence of a world of objects that exist independent of human interests, concerns, and cognitive activities. The main thesis defended is that we have good reason to deny the existence of such a world. The discussion is concerned with four main facets of assuming a real world: (a) the existence of an external world of physical objects in space and time; (b) the existence of an internal world, comprising various mental states congregated around a self; (c) the existence of an ontological foundation that grounds the existence of all the entities in the world; and (d) the existence of an ultimately true theory that provides a final account of all there is.
Author: Sara Bernstein Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0198846223 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 346
Book Description
Nonexistence is ubiquitous, yet mysterious. This volume explores some of the most puzzling questions about non-being and nonexistence, and offers answers from diverse philosophical perspectives. The contributors draw on analytic, continental, Buddhist, and Jewish philosophical traditions, and the topics range from metaphysics to ethics, from philosophy of science to philosophy of language, and beyond.
Author: Bo Bennett Publisher: eBookIt.com ISBN: 1456607375 Category : Education Languages : en Pages : 429
Book Description
This book is a crash course in effective reasoning, meant to catapult you into a world where you start to see things how they really are, not how you think they are. The focus of this book is on logical fallacies, which loosely defined, are simply errors in reasoning. With the reading of each page, you can make significant improvements in the way you reason and make decisions. Logically Fallacious is one of the most comprehensive collections of logical fallacies with all original examples and easy to understand descriptions, perfect for educators, debaters, or anyone who wants to improve his or her reasoning skills. "Expose an irrational belief, keep a person rational for a day. Expose irrational thinking, keep a person rational for a lifetime." - Bo Bennett This 2021 Edition includes dozens of more logical fallacies with many updated examples.
Author: Nicholas Everitt Publisher: Psychology Press ISBN: 9780415301077 Category : Atheism Languages : en Pages : 358
Book Description
Arguments for the existence of God have taken many different forms over the centuries: in The Non-Existence of God, Everitt considers all the arguments and examines the role that reason and knowledge play in the debate over God's existence.
Author: Colin McGinn Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0199241813 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 123
Book Description
The concepts of identity, existence, predication, necessity, and truth are at the centre of philosophy and have rightly received sustained attention. Yet Colin McGinn believes that orthodox views of these topics are misguided in important ways. Philosophers and logicians have often distorted the nature of these concepts in an attempt to define them according to preconceived ideas. Logical Properties aims to respect the ordinary ways we talk and think when we employ theseconcepts, while at the same time showing that they are far more interesting and peculiar than some have supposed. There are real properties corresponding to these concepts - logical properties - that challenge naturalistic metaphysical views. These are not pseudo-properties or mere pieces of syntax. LogicalProperties is written with the minimum of formal apparatus and deals with logico-linguistic issues as well as ontological ones. The focus is on trying to get to the essence of what the concept concerned stands for, and not merely finding some established notation for providing formal paraphrases.
Author: Petr Vopěnka Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press ISBN: 8024646633 Category : Mathematics Languages : en Pages : 352
Book Description
The dominant current of twentieth-century mathematics, which simultaneously explores and applies infinity (albeit in bizarre ideal worlds), relies on Cantor's classical theory of infinite sets. Cantor’s theory in turn relies on the problematic assumption of the existence of the set of all natural numbers, the only justification for which – a theological justification - is usually concealed and pushed into the collective unconscious. This book begins by surveying the theological background, emergence, and development of classical set theory. The author warns us about the dangers implicit in the construction of set theory, traceable in his own and other eminent mathematicians' seminal works on the subject. He then goes on to present an argument about the absurdity of the assumption of the existence of the set of all natural numbers. However, the author’s contribution is not just a negation of current views and assumptions. On the contrary, the new infinitary mathematics that he proceeds to propose and develop is driven by a cautious effort to transcend the horizon bounding the ancient geometric world and pre-set-theoretical mathematics, whilst allowing mathematics to correspond more closely to the natural real world surrounding us. The final parts are devoted to a discussion of real numbers and to demonstrating how, within the new infinitary mathematics, calculus can be rehabilitated in its original form employing infinitesimals.