McHenry Science and the Pursuit of Wisdom

Studies in the Philosophy of Nicholas Maxwell
1. Auflage 2013
ISBN: 978-3-11-031943-9
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 324 Seiten

Nicholas Maxwell's provocative and highly-original philosophy of science urges a revolution in academic inquiry affecting all branches of learning, so that the single-minded pursuit of knowledge is replaced with the aim of helping people realize what is of value in life and make progress toward a more civilized world. This volume of essays from an international, interdisciplinary group of scholars engages Maxwell in critical evaluation and celebrates his contribution to philosophy spanning forty years. Several of the contributors, like Maxwell, took their inspiration from Sir Karl Popper's philosophy of science and were connected to the department he created at the London School of Economics. In the introductory chapter, Maxwell provides an overview of his thought and then defends his views against objections in a concluding essay.

Autoren/Hrsg.

McHenry, Leemon

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Wissenschaftstheorie, Wissenschaftsphilosophie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Wissenschaften: Theorie, Epistemologie, Methodik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Westliche Philosophie: 20./21. Jahrhundert

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Contents
;5
2;Preface
;7
3;How Can Life Of Value Best Flourish in the Real World
;9
3.1;1. The Urgent Need for an Intellectual Revolution;9
3.2;2. Two Fundamental Problems
;11
3.3;3. Autobiographical Remarks
;15
3.4;4. What Kind of Inquiry Can Best Help Life of Value to Flourish?
;23
3.5;5. The Human World/Physical Universe Problem
;46
3.6;6. Connections Between the Two Problems
;60
4;Sonnets on Wisdom
;65
4.1;Faustus in us
;65
4.2;Wise at heart
;66
4.3;The Way Of Wisdom
;67
4.4;The Spirit of Wisdom
;68
5;Nicholas Maxwell in Context;69
5.1;1. Introduction;69
5.2;2. New Academic Courses, Programs and Departments Formed inResponse to Human Problems;71
5.3;3. Academic Research Associated with “What is of Value in Life”;75
5.4;4. Wisdom Education;81
5.5;5. Conclusion;88
6;Prolegomena To a Critique of PureWisdom;91
6.1;1. Why Wisdom Is Unloved by Western Philosophers;91
6.2;2. Wisdom as the Enemy of Prophecy and Progress;94
6.3;3. Is ‘Maxwellian Wisdom’ Really Wisdom or Simply FinalizedScience?;97
7;Why is it so Hard to Move fromKnowledge to Wisdom?;101
7.1;1. Introduction;101
7.2;2. Why not? – The Social Dimension;103
7.3;3. Tyranny and Voluntary Servitude;104
7.4;4. Capitalism;108
7.5;6. Epilogue;117
8;The Urgent Need for an IntellectualRevolution: Maxwell's Version;119
8.1;1. Introduction;119
8.2;2. The Advocacy of Knowledge without Wisdom;120
8.3;3. For Wisdom to Take Over;122
8.4;4. Decisions about Agendas;123
8.5;5. Agendas as Coordinating Institutions;126
8.6;6. Agendas in History;128
8.7;7. Political Agendas;131
8.8;8. Muddling Through Agendas;133
8.9;9. Conclusion;135
9;No Easy Answers:Wisdom and Cognitive Science;137
9.1;1. Introduction;137
9.2;2. Computers and Cognitive Science;138
9.3;3. Computers and the Military;140
9.4;4. Military Themes;142
9.5;5. Keeping One's Hands Clean;144
9.6;6. Might-Have-Beens and Might-Bes;146
9.7;7. Is Un-Wisdom Built In?;149
9.8;8. Conclusion;153
10;How Should Research be Organised? AnAlternative to the UK ResearchAssessment Exercise;155
10.1;1. Introduction;155
10.2;2. Critique of the RAE. Throwing Away the Pink Diamonds;157
10.3;3.Why the RAE Makes Teaching Worse;165
10.4;4. Why Rewarding Teaching Will Improve Research;170
11;Our Place in Nature;177
11.1;1. Introduction;177
11.2;2. A Starting-Point: a Take on Popper’s Epistemology;178
11.3;3. Reduction;180
11.4;4. Maxwell and Popper on Our Place in Nature;184
11.5;5. Some Argument;187
11.6;6. Conclusion;188
12;Maxwell on Free Will, Science andDeterminism;191
12.1;1. Introduction;191
12.2;2. Multiaspectism;193
12.3;3. Science or Determinism?;195
12.4;4. Evolution and Rationality;199
12.5;5. The End of Determinism?;204
13;Limits of Physicalism;207
13.1;1. Introduction;207
13.2;2. Outline of HWPU and my Disagreement;208
13.3;3. Maxwell’s Argument for Physicalism;209
13.4;4. A Contrary Viewpoint;212
13.5;5. Reasonable Decision-making;215
13.6;6. The Evolution of Purpose;220
14;Metaphysics and Methodology: Aim-Oriented Empiricism;225
14.1;1. AOE and Maxwell’s Critique of Standard Empiricism (SE);226
14.2;2. SE and Criticisms of Maxwell’s AOE;231
14.3;3. Conclusion;238
15;Popper and Maxwell on ScientificProgress;241
15.1;1. Introduction;241
15.2;2. Popper’s Falsification and Explanation;242
15.3;3. Maxwell’s Critique: Aim Oriented Empiricism;246
15.4;4. Evaluation;250
15.5;5. Conclusion;254
16;Replies and Reflections;257
17;Selected Publications ofNicholas Maxwell;323
18;Notes on Contributors;329