The essays collected in this volume are all concerned with epistemology and ethics. They concern such topics as the theory of ostensive definition, the relation between thought and language, the role of language in the context of morality, conditions and justification of knowledge, the nature and rationality of belief, testimonial knowledge and virtue epistemology. Two seemingly opposite theories, Hume's theory of belief and Descartes' theory of knowledge are discussed in two essays, and, finally, Kant's theory of cognition and conation, are subject to acute critical appreciation. The opposites are made to come together. The essays are marked by careful reading of the texts such that opposites are made to meet, and the logical foundation of the theories brought together. Thus the author attempts a careful reading of the texts, and application of logical principles with a view to reconciling their apparent oppositions. Logic and metaphysics are brought together, Kant being the overall winner.
I strongly recommend this book to philosophy students who are willing to work through the hard-headed essays. They will ultimately profit from working through the slender and rich volume. Everywhere Kant wins, and the students will do well to re-acquaint themselves with the/deep treasures of Kantian thinking.
Philosophical progress is marked by different varieties of disputes which are ubiquitous in this area, and elsewhere, in all areas of human interaction. There is less chance of disagreement here because, the plausibility of this statement is almost instantaneously found by the appearance of a new dispute after an earlier dispute resolves. Disputes which are initially marked as verbal dispute often reign in any human discourse and consequently diagnosed as an essential element in establishing a philosophical theory. In this present volume I intend to focus on-with a discursive privilege-some controversial philosophical issues raised by different thinkers, and in some obstinate cases I have tried to go close to the heart of the dispute with an approach to clear understanding of the issue underlying the dispute.
There are three parts of this book. In the first part epistemological and ethical issues raised by modern Western thinkers have been discussed. The second part concentrates on some emerging trends found in the study of some basic epistemic notions. It is a fact that no epistemological dispute can be discussed without any reference to ontology. So the third part seeks to connect-in Kantian language-judgemental knowledge' with reality.
The first three articles of the first part are centred round three diverse approaches of three very important philosophers-Descartes (rationalism), Hume (empiricism) and Immanuel Kant (critical theory). The basic question of epistemology undertaken by Descartes is about the certainty and doubtlessness of philosophical knowledge. There had been much discussion and criticism regarding the role of his first indubitable truth 'cogito ergo sum'. In the first paper the nature of this proposition has been analysed-in the light of recent thinkers-once again in defence of Descartes' philosophical thinking.
Empiricist view of epistemic notions finds an interesting account in Hume's philosophy. It is a phenomenological account of belief which gets priority in his philosophy. The second essay presents a critical estimation of Hume's theory of belief. Hume's variety uses of the terms 'force', 'solidity' in respect of his definition of belief has been positively appreciated, and a hint has been given regarding the relevance of Humean understanding.
The distinction between pure and empirical philosophy has an important place in Kant's philosophy. Being an advocate of modernism, he dares to view the role of reason even in the area of human will. The relevance of this essay in this volume may be found in the attempt to relate cognitive agency with moral agency as viewed by Kant.
The fourth essay is a bridge between the classical thinkers and the recent thinkers. Sceptics occupy a very important position in every stage of philosophical enquiry, because it is doubt that prompt’s philosophy to pursue the proper way to truth. In one of the discussions made by Arthur Pap the epistemological generalisation of the sceptics has been challenged. The essay focuses on the acceptability of Pap's view.
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