The Metaphysics of Self and World: Toward a Humanistic PhilosophyA great fissure occurred in Western civilization in the early modern period with the divorce between the humanities and the sciences and the rise of scientific naturalism. The Metaphysics of Self and World is a philosophical exploration of the relationship between the individual, the culture, and the world. It is, in the author's words, "a philosophy of the humanities, a philosophy of humanity, and a philosophy of social reality." It explores the implications of a world-view that would integrate the perspective of the sciences with humanistic ways of thought. E.M. Adams claims that we do violence to ourselves as human beings by trying to fit into the world as delineated in scientific categories. Rejecting cultural subjectivism and scientific naturalism, he argues for the irreducibility and validity of the categories of the humanities and for a fully developed humanistic philosophy of self and world. In generating this world-view, he utilizes the humanities as a source of culture therapy in order to close the fissure in Western civilization. Author note: E. M. Adams is Kenan Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has written numerous books and articles, and a festschrift celebrating his work, Mind, Value, and Culture: Essays in Honor of E. M. Adams (edited by David Weissbord), was published in 1989. |
Contents
THE PROBLEM | 3 |
THE HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL CRITICISM | 17 |
MEANING AND SUBJECTIVITY | 49 |
Functional Theory of Propositional Attitudes | 77 |
KNOWLEDGE AND OBJECTIVITY | 92 |
SEMANTIC AND EPISTEMIC POWERS OF | 128 |
Common terms and phrases
action acts affective and conative assumptions basic behavior beliefs biological C. I. Lewis categorial structure causal concepts conceptual system conscious constituted correct culture define discourse ence environment epistemic encounter epistemological Ethical Naturalism ethics existence existential and factual feel function functionalist G. E. Moore grounded human mind humanistic identity imperative individual involved judgment kind knowledge knowledge-yielding powers language live materialistic mental metaphysical mode modern moral natural naturalistic normative requirements normative structure one's oneself organism person personhood philosophical philosophy of mind physical objects possible present presupposed problems properties propositional attitudes psychological question rational reality reasons reflective awareness rience scientific secondary qualities seems self-concept self-knowledge semantic content semantic dimension semantic presence sense impressions sensory experience sensory perception sentences social order society somatic sensations structure of meaning subject matter supervenient taking talk teleological teleological processes tence theory things tions truth ture universe of discourse words world-view
References to this book
Alfred North Whitehead on Learning and Education: Theory and Application Franz G. Riffert Limited preview - 2005 |