Nature and Normativity

Biology, Teleology, and Meaning

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Metaphysics, Mind & Body
Cover of the book Nature and Normativity by Mark Okrent, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Mark Okrent ISBN: 9781351997157
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: October 24, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Mark Okrent
ISBN: 9781351997157
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: October 24, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Nature and Normativity argues that the problem of the place of norms in nature has been essentially misunderstood when it has been articulated in terms of the relation of human language and thought, on the one hand, and the world described by physics on the other. Rather, if we concentrate on the facts that speaking and thinking are activities of organic agents, then the problem of the place of the normative in nature becomes refocused on three related questions. First, is there a sense in which biological processes and the behavior of organisms can be legitimately subject to normative evaluation? Second, is there some sense in which, in addition to having ordinary causal explanations, organic phenomena can also legitimately be seen to happen because they should happen in that way, in some naturalistically comprehensible sense of ‘should’, or that organic phenomena happen in order to achieve some result, because that result should occur? And third, is it possible to naturalistically understand how human thought and language can be legitimately seen as the normatively evaluable behavior of a particular species of organism, behavior that occurs in order to satisfy some class of norms? This book develops, articulates, and defends positive answers to each of these questions.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Nature and Normativity argues that the problem of the place of norms in nature has been essentially misunderstood when it has been articulated in terms of the relation of human language and thought, on the one hand, and the world described by physics on the other. Rather, if we concentrate on the facts that speaking and thinking are activities of organic agents, then the problem of the place of the normative in nature becomes refocused on three related questions. First, is there a sense in which biological processes and the behavior of organisms can be legitimately subject to normative evaluation? Second, is there some sense in which, in addition to having ordinary causal explanations, organic phenomena can also legitimately be seen to happen because they should happen in that way, in some naturalistically comprehensible sense of ‘should’, or that organic phenomena happen in order to achieve some result, because that result should occur? And third, is it possible to naturalistically understand how human thought and language can be legitimately seen as the normatively evaluable behavior of a particular species of organism, behavior that occurs in order to satisfy some class of norms? This book develops, articulates, and defends positive answers to each of these questions.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Contemporary Families by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book State Responses to Minority Religions by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Confrontation Talk by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Schooling Indifference by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Memory and Society by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Shakespeare and the Uses of Antiquity by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Muslim Americans by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book The Public Lives of Charlotte and Marie Stopes by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Advaita Vedanta and Vaisnavism by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book France 1870-1914 by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book After Poststructuralism by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book The Sociology of Risk and Gambling Reader by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Using Student Feedback for Successful Teaching by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Morality and Viennese Opera in the Age of Mozart and Beethoven by Mark Okrent
Cover of the book Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education by Mark Okrent
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy