The Enlightenment Project In The Analytic Conversation
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Analytic philosophy has been a dominant intellectual movement in the 20th century and a reflection of the cultural pre-eminence of scientism. In response to analytic philosophy's peculiar reticence (and inability) to discuss itself, this book provides its first comprehensive history and critique. The central element in the analytic conversation has been the Enlightenment Project: the appeal to an autonomous human reason, freed of any higher authority and channeling itself through science as its privileged tool. This centrality is demonstrated by systematically examining its presence and development in the philosophy of science, metaphysics, epistemology, language, psychology, social science, ethics, political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. This journey highlights the internal logical disintegration of that project. Post-modern relativism is its natural offspring and not a viable alternative. The Enlightenment Project's conception of physical science is defective; this defective conception of physical science renders the analytic conception of social science, philosophical psychology, and epistemology defective; and that defective conception of the human condition leads to defective conceptions of both moral and political philosophy, specifically the idea of social engineering or social technology. Throughout the book, an alternative conception of philosophy is presented as a way out of the abyss of analysis, an alternative that reconnects philosophy with the mainstream of Western civilization and initiates the process of providing a coherent cultural narrative. This book will be of particular interest to any sophisticated reader concerned about the lack of a coherent cultural narrative. Booknews Provides a history and critique of analytic philosophy, examining the presence and development of the appeal to autonomous reason in the philosophy of science, metaphysics, epistemology, language, political philosophy, psychology, and other fields. Highlights the internal logical disintegration of that strand of philosophy due to its defective conception of physical science, and argues that post-modern relativism is its natural offspring and not a viable alternative. An alternative philosophy is presented, reconnecting philosophy with mainstream Western civilization. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
DedicationAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1AppOutline of the Enlightenment Project in the Analytic Conversation11Ch. 1The Enlightenment Project17Ch. 2Analytic Philosophy of Science41Ch. 3Analytic Philosophy and Science75Ch. 4Metaphysics in Analytic Philosophy112Ch. 5Analytic Epistemology153Ch. 6Analytic Philosophy and Language194Ch. 7Analytic Philosophical Psychology245Ch. 8The Enlightenment Project in Analytic Social Science292Ch. 9Analytic Ethics317Ch. 10Analytic Social and Political Philosophy349Ch. 11Analytic Philosophy and the History of Philosophy393Ch. 12Beyond the Enlightenment Project443Works Cited470Index510
