Understanding UnderstandingA study of the scope and limits of understanding. How is understanding to be understood? Are there limits to understanding? What of importance, if anything, could lie beyond understanding? And do we need to understand knowledge before we can know about understanding? Richard Mason's argument is that a critical theory of understanding, modeled on past theories of knowledge, cannot be workable. Understanding may bring wisdom: an uncomfortable thought for many philosophers in the twentieth century. Yet philosophy aims at expanding understanding at least as much as knowledge. How we understand understanding affects how we understand philosophy. If we put aside a narrow view of understanding based upon a cartesian model of knowledge, we may gain a more liberal, open understanding of philosophy. Mason's treatment of these fascinating problems offers a clear and lucid dialogue with a number of contemporary philosophical schools and with philosophy's past. His discussions include the thought of Hume, Henry James, Heidegger, Frege, Charles Taylor, Michael Oakeshott, Wittgenstein, Gadamer, James Joyce, and the Guyaki Indians. This fascinating book contributes to the work of many of these traditions as well as to the nature of understanding in areas as diverse as physics, music, and linguistics. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
CHAPTER | 7 |
CHAPTER | 21 |
CHAPTER THREE | 39 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 51 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 67 |
CHAPTER | 89 |
WISDOM | 105 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 125 |
| 131 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept account of understanding Anthony Kenny areas argument beliefs Cambridge University Press Cartesian chapter cognition concepts context critical Critique of Pure Descartes elusive epistemology example explanation feel form of understanding G. E. M. Anscombe grasp Heraclitus hermeneutics historical human understanding imagery imagine imply intelligible in principle interpretation intuition J. O. Urmson Kant Kant's language laws less limits linguistic linguistic understanding mathematical understanding matter metaphor Michael Dummett mind model of understanding mystery nature objects of understanding Oxford University Press P. F. Strawson Philosophical Investigations Pierre Clastres Plato platonic possible practical priority problem propositions Pure Reason question rational religion religious seems seen sense skepticism someone Spinoza standing styles of understanding theological theory of knowledge theory of meaning theory of understanding things thought tions tive truth Truth and Method understood unintelligible visual W. D. Ross wisdom Wittgenstein writing