Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Epistemology
Cover of the book Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds by Edouard Machery, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Edouard Machery ISBN: 9780192534538
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: August 4, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Edouard Machery
ISBN: 9780192534538
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: August 4, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

In Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds, Edouard Machery argues that resolving many traditional and contemporary philosophical issues is beyond our epistemic reach and that philosophy should re-orient itself toward more humble, but ultimately more important intellectual endeavors. Any resolution to many of these contemporary issues would require an epistemic access to metaphysical possibilities and necessities, which, Machery argues, we do not have. In effect, then, Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds defends a form of modal skepticism. The book assesses the main philosophical method for acquiring the modal knowledge that the resolution of modally immodest philosophical issues turns on: the method of cases, that is, the consideration of actual or hypothetical situations (which cases or thought experiments describe) in order to determine what facts hold in these situations. Canvassing the extensive work done by experimental philosophers over the last 15 years, Edouard Machery shows that the method of cases is unreliable and should be rejected. Importantly, the dismissal of modally immodest philosophical issues is no cause for despair - many important philosophical issues remain within our epistemic reach. In particular, reorienting the course of philosophy would free time and resources for bringing back to prominence a once-central intellectual endeavor: conceptual analysis.

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

In Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds, Edouard Machery argues that resolving many traditional and contemporary philosophical issues is beyond our epistemic reach and that philosophy should re-orient itself toward more humble, but ultimately more important intellectual endeavors. Any resolution to many of these contemporary issues would require an epistemic access to metaphysical possibilities and necessities, which, Machery argues, we do not have. In effect, then, Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds defends a form of modal skepticism. The book assesses the main philosophical method for acquiring the modal knowledge that the resolution of modally immodest philosophical issues turns on: the method of cases, that is, the consideration of actual or hypothetical situations (which cases or thought experiments describe) in order to determine what facts hold in these situations. Canvassing the extensive work done by experimental philosophers over the last 15 years, Edouard Machery shows that the method of cases is unreliable and should be rejected. Importantly, the dismissal of modally immodest philosophical issues is no cause for despair - many important philosophical issues remain within our epistemic reach. In particular, reorienting the course of philosophy would free time and resources for bringing back to prominence a once-central intellectual endeavor: conceptual analysis.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Supportive Care in Respiratory Disease by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book How to Count Animals, more or less by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book What is Life? by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book The Teleology of Action in Plato's Republic by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book An Essay on the Principle of Population by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Charles Williams by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Private Law and the Rule of Law by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Antarctica: A Biography by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book The Nature of the Gods by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book The Pursuit of the Nazi Mind by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Australia: A Very Short Introduction by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book 1917 by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Visions:How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Corporate Obligations under International Law by Edouard Machery
Cover of the book Microeconomics: A Very Short Introduction by Edouard Machery
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