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The Enduring Puzzles: Exploring the Problems of Philosophy
Have you ever stared at the night sky and wondered about the nature of reality? Or pondered the meaning of life, grappling with questions that seem to have no definitive answers? These are the kinds of questions that lie at the heart of philosophy, a field dedicated to examining fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. This exploration delves into the core problems of philosophy, examining some of the most enduring and challenging issues that have captivated thinkers for millennia. We'll unravel complex concepts, offering a clear and insightful look at the ongoing debates that shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
1. The Problem of Knowledge (Epistemology): What Can We Know?
Epistemology, the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge, grapples with fundamental questions about the nature of knowledge itself. What constitutes justified belief? How do we acquire knowledge? Are there limits to what we can know? Skepticism, a persistent challenge within epistemology, questions the possibility of certain knowledge, raising doubts about our sensory experiences and the reliability of our reasoning processes. The ongoing debate between rationalism (emphasizing reason) and empiricism (emphasizing experience) continues to shape our understanding of how we acquire knowledge.
#### 1.1. The Gettier Problem: Justified True Belief
One of the most influential challenges to the traditional definition of knowledge ("justified true belief") is the Gettier problem. This thought experiment highlights scenarios where someone might have a justified true belief that turns out to be accidentally true, raising questions about whether justification alone is sufficient for knowledge. This problem has led to significant revisions and refinements of epistemological theories.
2. The Problem of Reality (Metaphysics): What is Real?
Metaphysics explores the fundamental nature of reality, delving into questions about existence, time, space, and causality. One central problem is the mind-body problem: What is the relationship between the mind and the physical body? Are they distinct substances (dualism), or is the mind simply a product of brain activity (materialism)? Further complicating matters are debates regarding free will versus determinism, the nature of consciousness, and the existence of God.
#### 2.1. The Ship of Theseus Paradox
This classic thought experiment challenges our understanding of identity and persistence through change. If a ship's planks are gradually replaced over time, is it still the same ship? This seemingly simple question has profound implications for understanding personal identity and the nature of objects.
3. The Problem of Morality (Ethics): How Should We Live?
Ethics explores questions of morality, addressing how we ought to behave and what constitutes a good life. Different ethical theories offer contrasting perspectives, from utilitarianism (maximizing overall happiness) to deontology (following moral duties) and virtue ethics (cultivating virtuous character traits). Central problems within ethics include resolving moral dilemmas, establishing universal moral principles, and grappling with questions of justice and fairness.
#### 3.1. The Trolley Problem: Ethical Dilemmas
The trolley problem presents a classic ethical dilemma: Should you sacrifice one person to save five? This thought experiment highlights the complexities of consequentialist versus deontological ethical frameworks and the challenges of applying abstract ethical principles to real-world situations.
4. The Problem of Meaning (Philosophy of Life): What is the Purpose of Life?
This branch of philosophy explores the meaning and purpose of human existence. Questions about happiness, suffering, the value of life, and the possibility of an afterlife are central to this area of inquiry. Nihilism, the belief that life is inherently meaningless, stands in contrast to existentialism, which emphasizes individual freedom, responsibility, and the creation of meaning through action.
#### 4.1. Absurdism: Embracing the Meaningless
Absurdism acknowledges the inherent conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the universe's apparent lack of it. This philosophical perspective encourages us to embrace this absurdity and find meaning through conscious rebellion and engagement with life despite its inherent meaninglessness.
Conclusion
The problems of philosophy are not easily solved, and many remain subjects of ongoing debate. However, the very act of grappling with these fundamental questions expands our understanding of ourselves, the world, and our place within it. By exploring these enduring puzzles, we deepen our critical thinking skills and cultivate a more nuanced perspective on the complexities of human existence. The pursuit of philosophical inquiry, even without definitive answers, is a journey of intellectual growth and self-discovery.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between metaphysics and epistemology? Metaphysics explores the nature of reality, while epistemology examines the nature of knowledge. Metaphysics asks "What is real?", while epistemology asks "What can we know?"
2. Is philosophy relevant in the 21st century? Absolutely! Philosophy equips us with critical thinking skills essential for navigating complex issues in a rapidly changing world. It encourages reasoned debate and helps us form informed opinions on everything from ethics and politics to technology and the environment.
3. How can I learn more about the problems of philosophy? Start with introductory texts on philosophy, explore online resources (like Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), and consider taking a philosophy course.
4. What are some famous philosophers who have addressed these problems? Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Nietzsche, and Sartre are just a few of the many philosophers who have significantly contributed to our understanding of these enduring questions.
5. Is there a "right" answer to the problems of philosophy? Often, there isn't a single "right" answer. Philosophy encourages critical thinking and the exploration of multiple perspectives, fostering intellectual growth through reasoned debate and the development of well-supported arguments.
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2001-03-15 'Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?' Philosophy is the attempt to answer such ultimate questions, not carelessly and dogmatically, as we might deal with them in ordinary life, but critically, after analysing how and why the questions arise and clarifying the assumptions and concepts on which they are based. This classic work, first published in 1912, has never been supplanted as an approachable introduction to the theory of philosophical enquiry. It gives Russell's views on such subjects as the distinction between appearance and reality, the existence and nature of matter, idealism, knowledge by acquaintance and by description, induction, and the limits and value of philosophical knowledge. This edition includes an introduction by John Skorupski contextualizing Russell's work, and a guide to further reading. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2004 |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Illustrated Bertrand Russell, 2020-09-17 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of (failed) attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? Can we prove cause and effect? Can we validate any of our generalizations? Can we objectively justify morality? He asserts that philosophy cannot answer any of these questions and that any value of philosophy must lie elsewhere than in offering proofs to these questions. Wittgenstein suggested further that these questions are empty and the value of philosophy is as an assistant to science.Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data.Russell guides the reader through his famous 1910 distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description and introduces important theories of Plato, Aristotle, René Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike.In the following pages I have confined myself in the main to those problems of philosophy in regard to which I thought it possible to say something positive and constructive, since merely negative criticism seemed out of place. For this reason, theory of knowledge occupies a larger space than metaphysics in the present volume, and some topics much discussed by philosophers are treated very briefly, if at all.-Bertrand Russell, Preface of The Problems of Philosophy |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy By Bertrand Russell Illustrated Version Bertrand Russell, 2020-10-30 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2020-08-07 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, Earl, 2021-01-26 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by Bertrand Russell, which he attempts to create a brief guide to the problems of philosophy. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problem of Philosophy Annotated Bertrand Russell, 2019-06-27 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data.Russell guides the reader through his famous 1910 distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description and introduces important theories of Plato, Aristotle, René Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike.In the following pages I have confined myself in the main to those problems of philosophy in regard to which I thought it possible to say something positive and constructive, since merely negative criticism seemed out of place. For this reason, theory of knowledge occupies a larger space than metaphysics in the present volume, and some topics much discussed by philosophers are treated very briefly, if at all. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Annotated Bertrand Russell, 2020-10-08 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? Can we prove cause and effect? Can we validate any of our generalizations? Can we objectively justify morality? He asserts that philosophy cannot answer any of these questions and that any value of philosophy must lie elsewhere than in offering proofs to these questions. Wittgenstein suggested further that these questions are empty and the value of philosophy is as an assistant to science.Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Annotated and Illustrated Edition Bertrand Russell, 2021-02-23 Bertrand Russell was an upper-class English philosopher who was born on May 18th, 1872. He came from a long line of left-wing academics and after the death of his parents when he was only four years old, he was raised by his Grandmother. She valued education enormously and dedicated herself to providing him with the best education possible; this paid off when he was accepted to study Math at the prestigious Cambridge University in 1890. Math sparked his interest in logic and philosophy and he published his first book on the subject in 1897. Unlike the majority of philosophers, Russell achieved almost celebrity-like status. He is also unique in that it is possible to trace the evolution of his own philosophical thought by following his career from beginning to end. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy (Illustrated Edition) Bertrand Russell, 2021-05-27 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2017-08-08 The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by Bertrand Russell, in which Russell attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data.Russell guides the reader through his famous 1910 distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description and introduces important theories of Plato, Aristotle, Ren� Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike.Welcome to a special edition of a renowned classic. This classic, difficult-to-find text has been reprinted using a print-on-demand service to provide you with an updated version of the text, at the best value possible! Several edits have been made for readability, including font, text size, spacing, and alignment changes. However, while our goal was to enhance the ease at which this book can be read, we did not alter or change the historic text. Experience this classic in all of its glory and historical significance! |
| problems of philosophy: The Value of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2017-10-05 The Value of Philosophy is one of the most important chapters of Bertrand's Russell's magnum Opus, The Problems of Philosophy. As a whole, Russell focuses on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. |
| problems of philosophy: Some Problems of Philosophy William James, 1996-01-01 With the clarity that James deemed obligatory, Some Problems of Philosophy outlines his theory of perception. The early chapters expose the defects of intellectualism and monism and the advantages of empiricism and pluralism. The novelty that enters into concrete perceptual experience, and that is disallowed by the rationalizing intellect, suggests exciting possibilities. Denied any absolute truth in an ever-changing world, privy to only a piece of the truth at any given moment, the individual can, with faith and good will, help create order out of chaos. Some Problems in Philosophy, published posthumously, represents an important advance in William James’s thought. |
| problems of philosophy: Rationalism, Empiricism, and Idealism British Academy, 1986 Lectures, most of which were delivered in the last 15 years to the British Academy as Dawes Hicks lectures. Includes index. Locke's logical atavism / Michael Ayres -- Locke and the ethics of belief / J.A. Passmore -- Leibniz and Descartes / Ian Hacking -- Pre-established harmony versus constant conjunction / Hid©♭ Ishiguro -- Times, beginnings, and causes / G.E.M. Anscombe -- The naturalism of Book I of Hume's Treatise of human nature / David Pears -- Absolute idealism / A.M. Quinton --The good self and the bad self / Richard Wollheim. |
| problems of philosophy: Reality+ David J. Chalmers, 2022-01-25 From one of our leading thinkers, a dazzling philosophical journey through virtual worlds In the coming decades, the technology that enables virtual and augmented reality will improve beyond recognition. Within a century, world-renowned philosopher David J. Chalmers predicts, we will have virtual worlds that are impossible to distinguish from non-virtual worlds. But is virtual reality just escapism? In a highly original work of 'technophilosophy', Chalmers argues categorically, no: virtual reality is genuine reality. Virtual worlds are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality - and increasingly, we will. What is reality, anyway? How can we lead a good life? Is there a god? How do we know there's an external world - and how do we know we're not living in a computer simulation? In Reality+, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of philosophy, using cutting-edge technology to provide invigorating new answers to age-old questions. Drawing on examples from pop culture, literature and film that help bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it. |
| problems of philosophy: 101 Philosophy Problems Martin Cohen, 2002 A fresh and original introduction to philosophy, written in a clear and entertaining style. The first part of the book presents philosophical problems, the second part contains solutions and further discussions. |
| problems of philosophy: The Nature of Philosophical Problems John Kekes, 2014-05-08 We must all make choices about how we want to live. We evaluate our possibilities by relying on historical, moral, personal, political, religious, and scientific modes of evaluations, but the values and reasons that follow from them conflict. Philosophical problems are forced on us when we try to cope with such conflicts. There are reasons for and against all proposed ways of coping with the conflicts, but none of them has been generally accepted by reasonable thinkers. The constructive aim of The Nature of Philosophical Problems is to propose a way of understanding the nature of such philosophical problems, explain why they occur, why they are perennial, and propose a pluralist approach as the most reasonable way of coping with them. This approach is practical, context-dependent, and particular. It follows from it that the recurrence of philosophical problems is not a defect, but a welcome consequence of the richness of our modes of understanding that enlarges the range of possibilities by which we might choose to live. The critical aim of the book is to give reasons against both the absolutist attempt to find an overriding value or principle for resolving philosophical problems and of the relativist claim that reasons unavoidably come to an end and how we want to live is ultimately a matter of personal preference, not of reasons. |
| problems of philosophy: Problems and Theories of Philosophy K. Ajdukiewicz, 1973-11-29 Modern Polish philosophy has an impressive record as a powerful, innovating tradition, in many respects parallel to but independent of the development of analytical philosophy in Britain and America. Owing to an absence of adequate translations however, the work of its leading exponents has generally only been encountered second-hand. To remedy this, Quinton and Skolimowski have translated an introduction to philosophy written by Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz, probably the outstanding representative of the generation. Problems and Theories of Philosophy surveys concisely and, so far as possible, systematically the main problems in epistemology and metaphysics and the most historically important of the solutions proposed to them. The book still reads freshly and displays many of the characteristic intellectual virtues of Polish philosophy: clarity and straightforwardness of presentation combined with a bracing rigour and precision. It is in no sense parochial to its Polish origins and can stand beside the classic English introductions to the subject as stimulating and lucid analysis of perennial philosophical problems and strategies. |
| problems of philosophy: Plato Etc Roy Bhaskar, 2009-10-27 In this concise text, Roy Bhaskar sets out to diagnose, explain and resolve the problems of philosophy. Plato Etc. reviews all the main areas of the subject: the theory of knowledge and philosophy of science; the philosophy of logic and language; the philosophies of space, time and causality; the philosophy of the social and life sciences and of dialectic; ethics, politics and aesthetics; and the history and sociology of philosophy. Among the issues discussed are the problems of induction and universals, the question of relativism, Heidegger’s scandal of philosophy (the search for a proof of the reality of the external world), the nature of moral truth and the conundrum of free will and determinism. The last two chapters consist of a synoptic account of the development of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to poststructuralism. Plato Etc. seeks to revindicate the philosophical project, and to demonstrate that the author’s dialectical critical realism has the categorical power to remedy the problem fields of philosophy. The book serves both as a critical introduction to philosophy and as an invaluable resource for the scholar. |
| problems of philosophy: Justice in War-time Bertrand Russell, 2007-12-01 Justice in War-time, first published in 1916, is a collection of Bertrand Russell's essays on war. He claims that humans have an instinct toward war, but that this instinct needs to be sufficiently roused in order to spark conflict. He analyzes British foreign policy during the ten years before the First World War in an effort to discover how England may have contributed to the problem. The essays included in this volume are: . An Appeal to the Intellectuals of Europe . The Ethics of War . War and Non-Resistance . Why Nations Love War . The Future of Anglo-German Rivalry . Is Permanent Peace Possible? . The Danger to Civilization . The Entente Policy, 1904-1915. A Reply to Professor Gilbert Murray British philosopher and mathematician BERTRAND ARTHUR WILLIAM RUSSELL (1872-1970) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. Among his many works are Why I Am Not a Christian (1927), Power: A New Social Analysis (1938), and My Philosophical Development (1959). |
| problems of philosophy: Problems of Living Dan J. Stein, 2021-05-11 Problems of Living: Perspectives from Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Cognitive-Affective Science addresses philosophical questions related to problems of living, including questions about the nature of the brain-mind, reason and emotion, happiness and suffering, goodness and truth, and the meaning of life. It draws on critical, pragmatic, and embodied realism as well as moral naturalism, and brings arguments from metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics together with data from cognitive-affective science. This multidisciplinary integrated approach provides a novel framework for considering not only the nature of mental disorders, but also broader issues in mental health, such as finding pleasure and purpose in life. - Draws on the strongest aspects of polar positions in philosophy and psychiatry to help resolve important perennial debates in these fields - Explores continuities between early philosophical work and current cognitive-affective sciences, including neuroscience and psychology - Employs findings from modern cognitive-affective science to rethink key long-standing debates in philosophy and psychiatry - Builds on work showing how mind is embodied in the brain, and embedded in society, to provide an integrated conceptual framework - Assesses both the insights and the limitations of cognitive-affective science for addressing the big questions and hard problems of living |
| problems of philosophy: Problems from Philosophy James Rachels, Stuart Rachels, 2008-03-21 This [text] is an introduction to some of the main problems of philosophy—the existence of God, the nature of the mind, human freedom, the limits of knowledge, and the truth about ethics. The chapters may be read independently of one another, but when read in order, they tell a more or less continuous story. We begin with some reflections on the life of Socrates and then go on to the existence of God, which is the most basic philosophical question, because our answer to it affects everything else. This leads naturally to a discussion of death and the soul, and then to more modern ideas about the nature of persons. The later chapters are about whether we can have objective knowledge in either science or ethics. -from the Preface Problems from Philosophy represents the final work of author and philosopher James Rachels. In it, he brings the same liveliness and clarity to the introduction of philosophy that he brings to his best-selling ethics text, The Elements of Moral Philosophy. This second edition has been revised by Rachels' son Stuart, who carefully has carefully refined his father's work to further strengthen its clarity and accessibility. |
| problems of philosophy: The Persistent Problems Of Philosophy Mary Whiton Calkins, 2019-04-04 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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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 (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. |
| problems of philosophy: Think Simon Blackburn, 1999-08-05 This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them. Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important. Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figures such as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein have approached its central themes. Each chapter explains a major issue, and gives the reader a self-contained guide through the problems that philosophers have studied. The large scope of topics covered range from scepticism, the self, mond and body, and freedom to ethics and the arguments surrounding the existence of God. Lively and approachable, this book is ideal for all those who want to learn how the basic techniques of thinking shape our existence. |
| problems of philosophy: Basic Problems of Philosophy Daniel J. Bronstein, 1950 |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell, 2014-04-09 In the following pages I have confined myself in the main to those problems of philosophy in regard to which I thought it possible to say something positive and constructive, since merely negative criticism seemed out of place. For this reason, theory of knowledge occupies a larger space than metaphysics in the present volume, and some topics much discussed by philosophers are treated very briefly, if at all. I have derived valuable assistance from unpublished writings of G. E. Moore and J. M. Keynes: from the former, as regards the relations of sense-data to physical objects, and from the latter as regards probability and induction. I have also profited greatly by the criticisms and suggestions of Professor Gilbert Murray. |
| problems of philosophy: The Existence of the World Reinhardt Grossmann, 2020-10 Originally published in 1992. The history of Western philosophy can be seen as a battle between those that insist that the physical universe exists and those would claim that there is a much larger world which contains atemporal and nonspatial things as well. The central part of this book, and the battle, concerns the existence of universals. Starting with the mediaeval definition of the issue found in Porphry and Boethius, the author then considers modern and contemporary versions of the battle. He concludes that what is at stake between naturalists and ontologists is the existence and nature of a number of important categories, like structures, relations, sets, numbers and so on. |
| problems of philosophy: Utopias, Dolphins and Computers Mary Midgley, 2003-09-02 Why do the big philosophical questions so often strike us as far-fetched and little to with everyday life? Mary Midgley shows that it need not be that way; she shows that there is a need for philosophy in the real world. Her popularity as one of our foremost philosophers is based on a no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach to fundamental human problems, philosphical or otherwise. In Utopias, Dolphins and Computers she makes her case for philosophy as a difficult but necessary tool for solving some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary society. How should we treat animals? Why are we so confused about the value of education? What is at stake in feminism? Why should we sustain our environment? Why do we think intelligent computers will save us? Mary Midgley argues that philosophy not only can, but should be used in thinking about these questions. Utopias, Dolphins and Computers will make fascinating reading for philosophers, educationalists, feminists, environmentalists and indeed anyone interested in the questions of philosophy, ethics and life. |
| problems of philosophy: Philosophical Problems in Logic K. Lambert, 2012-12-06 The essays in this volume are based on addresses presented during a colloquium on free logic, modal logic and related areas held at the University of California at Irvine, in May of 1968. With the single exception of Dagfinn F011esdal, whose revised address is included in a recent issue of Synthese honoring W. V. Quine, all of the speakers at the Irvine colloquium are contributors to this volume. Thanks are due to Professor A. I. Melden, Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Irvine, for his enthusiastic support of the colloquium, and to Drs. Gordon Brittan and Daniel Dennett for their help in the administration of the colloquium. Finally. I should also like to thank Professor Ralph W. Gerard, Dean of the Graduate Division of the University of California at Irvine, for the financial support which made the colloquium possible. KAREL LAMBERT Laguna Beach, California, 1969 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE V KAREL LAMBERT and BAS C. VAN FRAASSEN/ Meaning Relations, Possible Objects, and Possible Worlds 1 JAAKKO HINTIKKA / Existential Presuppositions and Uniqueness Presuppositions 20 RICHMOND H. THOMASON / Some Completeness Results for Modal Predicate Calculi 56 H. LEBLANC and R. K. MEYER / Truth-Value Semantics for the Theory of Types 77 J. M. VICKERS / Probability and Non Standard Logics 102 PETER W. WOODRUFF / Logic and Truth Value Gaps 121 DANA SCOTT / Advice on Modal Logic 143 INDEX OF NAMES 175 KAREL LAMBER T AND BAS C. |
| problems of philosophy: Problems in Philosophy Colin McGinn, 1993-12-08 This advanced introductory text offers a synoptic view of philosophical inquiry, discussing such topics as consciousness, the self, meaning, free will, the a priori, and knowledge. The emphasis is on the fundamental intractability of these questions, and a theory is proposed as to why the human mind has so much difficulty in resolving them. This theory turns upon a naturalistic picture of the scope and limits of human intelligence. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problem of Universals in Early Modern Philosophy Stefano Di Bella, Tad M. Schmaltz, 2017-06-29 The ancient topic of universals was central to scholastic philosophy, which raised the question of whether universals exist as Platonic forms, as instantiated Aristotelian forms, as concepts abstracted from singular things, or as words that have universal signification. It might be thought that this question lost its importance after the decline of scholasticism in the modern period. However, the fourteen contributions contained in The Problem of Univerals in Early Modern Philosophy indicate that the issue of universals retained its vitality in modern philosophy. Modern philosophers in fact were interested in 3 sets of issues concerning universals: (i) issues concerning the ontological status of universals, (ii) issues concerning the psychology of the formation of universal concepts or terms, and (iii) issues concerning the value and use of universal concepts or terms in the acquisition of knowledge. Chapters in this volume consider the various forms of Platonism, conceptualism and nominalism (and distinctive combinations thereof) that emerged from the consideration of such issues in the work of modern philosophers. Furthermore, this volume covers not only the canonical modern figures, namely, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant, but also more neglected figures such as Pierre Gassendi, Pierre-Sylvain Regis, Nicolas Malebranche, Henry More, Ralph Cudworth and John Norris. |
| problems of philosophy: Russell Gregory Landini, 2010-09-13 Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was renowned as one of the founding figures of analytic philosophy, and for his lasting contributions to the study of logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics and epistemology. He was also famous for his popular works, where his humanism, ethics and antipathy towards religion came through in books such as The Problems of Philosophy, Why I am Not A Christian, and The Conquest of Happiness. Beginning with an overview of Russell’s life and work, Gregory Landini carefully explains Russell’s philosophy, to show why he ranks as one of the giants of British and Twentieth century philosophy. He discusses Russell’s major early works in philosophy of mathematics, including The Principles of Mathematics, wherein Russell illuminated and developed the ideas of Gottlob Frege; and the monumental three volume work written with Alfred North Whitehead, Principia Mathematica, where the authors attempted to show that all mathematical theory is part of logic, understood as a science of structure. Landini discusses the second edition of Principia Mathematica, to show Russell’s intellectual relationship with Wittgenstein and Ramsey. He discusses Russell’s epistemology and neutral monism before concluding with a discussion on Russell’s ethics, and the relationship between science and religion. Featuring a chronology and a glossary of terms, as well as suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter, Russell is essential reading for anyone studying philosophy, and is an ideal guidebook for those coming to Russell for the first time. |
| problems of philosophy: Some Main Problems of Philosophy Moore, George Edward, 2014-04-04 First published in 2002. This title collates a number of the late G. E. Moore's lectures on philosophy with the inclusion of his audience's questions and his answers that would bookend each session. Moore manages to present central, limiting, typical problems discussed in the study of philosophy in such a way that the reader begins to feel them despite themselves. Moore's introduction to philosophical difficulties can help students and scholars alike to judge and understand the most modern attempts to resolve these problems. |
| problems of philosophy: Problems of the Self Bernard Williams, 1976-03-25 This is a volume of philosophical studies, centred on problems of personal identity and extending to related topics in the philosophy of mind and moral philosophy. |
| problems of philosophy: Acquaintance, Knowledge, and Logic Donovan Wishon, 2015 Bertrand Russell, the recipient of the 1950 Nobel Prize for Literature, was one of the most distinguished, influential, and prolific philosophers of the twentieth century. Part of his importance consists in the significant contributions he made to mathematical logic, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and philosophy of science. But he is also widely recognized for his achievements as a public figure, social activist, and gifted popularizer who brought philosophy and science outside of the ivory tower with rare clarity and wit. Both of these elements harmoniously come together in his 1912 The Problems of Philosophy, a deceptively short book originally intended for a mass-audience of working adults but which has since become a core reading in the philosophical canon. This volume brings together 10 new essays on The Problems of Philosophy by some of the foremost scholars of Russell s life and works. These essays reexamine Russell s famous distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description, his developing views about our knowledge of physical reality, and his views about our knowledge of logic, mathematics, and other abstract matters. In addition, it includes an editors introduction, which summarizes Russell s book, highlights its continued significance for contemporary philosophy, and presents new biographical details about how and why Russell wrote it. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems of Philosophy Michael S. Russo, 2012 |
| problems of philosophy: Philosophical Problems of Space and Time Adolf Grünbaum, 2012-12-06 It is ten years since Adolf Griinbaum published the first edition of this book. It was promptly recognized to be one of the few major works in the philosophy of the natural sciences of this generation. In part, this is so because Griinbaum has chosen a problem basic both to philosophy and to the natural sciences - the nature of space and time; and in part, this is so because he so admirably exemplifies that Aristotelian devotion to the intimate and mutual dependence of actual science and philosophical understanding. More than this, however, the quality of his work derives from his achievement in combining detail with scope. The problems of space and time have been among the most difficult in contemporary and classical thought, and Griinbaum has been responsible to the full depth and complexity of these difficulties. This revised and enlarged second edition is a work in progress, in the tradition of reflective analysis of modern science of such figures as Ehrenfest and Reichenbach. In publishing this work among the Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, we hope to contribute to and encourage that broad tradition of natural philosophy which is marked by the close collaboration of philoso phers and scientists. To this end, we have published the proceedings of our Colloquia, of meetings and conferences here and abroad, as well as the works of single authors. |
| problems of philosophy: Philosophy and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy N. Joll, 2016-04-30 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy provides an excellent way of looking at some intriguing issues in philosophy, from vegetarianism and Artificial Intelligence to God, space and time. This is an entertaining yet thought provoking volume for students, philosophers and fans of The Hitchhiker's series. |
| problems of philosophy: The Problems Of Philosophy Bertrand A. W. Russell, 2017 |
| problems of philosophy: The Central Questions of Philosophy Alfred Jules Ayer, 1991 In this introduction to some of the most frequently discussed areas of philosophy, Sir Alfred Ayer made his subject accessible to both the general reader and the student. Among the topics covered are the nature of philosophy, varieties of philosophical analysis, theory of knowledge, status of physical objects, relations between body and mind, character of scientific explanation, theory of probability, elements of logic and the claims of theology. Although it ranges more widely, the book invites comparison with Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy. |
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