The structure of the mind : outlines of a philosophical system / Francesco Belfiore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Belfiore, Francesco.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy of mind.

Intellect.

Reason.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

xviii, 386 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : University Press of America, [2004]

Summary:

This book represents a unique attempt to restore a 'new-classical' aspiration towards a philosophical system able to provide some certainties. Using the distinctive feature of presenting an original and complete philosophical system, author Francesco Belfiore diverges from the philosophical literature of the last decades, which has been ever more focused upon specific fields.

Contents:

Chapter 1 A New Ontological Conception 1

1.1 A New Version of the "Cogito" 3

1.1.1 The Structure of the Being 6

1.1.1.1 Premise: Problems Arising from the Conception of the Res Cogitans and the Res Extensa 6

1.1.1.2 The Conception of Reality as the Unity-Distinction of the Intellect, the Sensitiveness and the Power 13

1.2 The Intellect 17

1.2.1 Other "Objects" of the Intellect: Ideas Themselves and Sentiments 20

1.2.2 The Intellect as a Support of the Sensitiveness and the Power: "Fantastic Ideas" and "Ideas of Personal Projects" 22

1.2.3 The branches of Knowledge 25

1.3 The Sensitiveness 26

1.3.1 The Sensitiveness as a Support of the Intellect and of the Power 28

1.4 The Power and the Physical World 29

1.4.1 The Power and Actions 29

1.4.2 The Physical World 31

1.5 The Mind as a Whole: The Consciousness 34

1.6 Defining the Ontological Conception: The Being "One and Trine" 35

1.6.1 Comparison with Other Philosophical Conceptions 37

1.6.1.1 Comparison with Other Unitary Conceptions 37

1.6.1.2 Comparison with Other Conceptions Based on a "One and Trine" Entity 39

1.6.1.2.1 Comparison with Other Philosophical Systems 39

1.6.1.2.2 Comparison with Some Religious Conceptions 41

Chapter 2 The Intellect: Knowledge and its Limits 43

2.1 The Knowledge of the Power: The Physical World and the Actions of Man 44

2.1.1 The Knowledge of the Physical World 45

2.1.1.1 The Objects and the Ideas-of-Object 45

2.1.1.1.1 The Individual Objects of the Supra-Molecular World 45

2.1.1.1.2 The Identical Particles of the Molecular-Atomic-Subatomic World 52

2.1.1.2 Similar Objects versus Identical Particles 53

2.1.1.2.1 Similar Objects of the Supra-Molecular World 53

2.1.1.2.2 Identical Particles of the Molecular-Atomic-Subatomic World 55

2.1.1.3 The Creation of "Classes" and "Sets" 56

2.1.1.3.1 Heterogeneous Classes Made of Individual Objects 56

2.1.1.3.2 Homogeneous Classes Made of Identical Particles 61

2.1.1.4 Physical versus Non-Physical Classes 62

2.1.1.5 Classes and the Knowledge Process 67

2.1.1.6 Classes and Some Logical Paradoxes 70

2.1.1.7 Classes, Numbers, Mathematics and Geometry 79

2.1.1.8 Relations between Objects and Classes 83

2.1.1.9 Relations in Static Conditions 84

2.1.1.9.1 Relations of the Object with Itself (Identification) 84

2.1.1.9.2 Relations Between Objects (or Inter-Objective) 85

2.1.1.9.3 Object-Class Relations 86

2.1.1.9.4 Relations Class-to-Class or Inter-Classes 88

2.1.1.10 Relations in Dynamic Conditions (Dynamic Relations): The Events 89

2.1.1.10.1 Dynamic Relations of the Object with Itself (Events Affecting a Single Object) 91

2.1.1.10.2 Dynamic Relations Between Objects: (I) The Cause-Effect Relation 91

2.1.1.10.3 Dynamic Relations Between Objects: (II) Relations of Action 102

2.1.1.10.4 The Creation of Transformation Laws (Scientific Laws) 102

2.1.1.11 The Starting Point of Knowledge and Its Progressive Development 107

2.1.1.11.1 The Subject-Object Relation 107

2.1.1.11.2 Subject-Object Relation and Quantum Mechanics 112

2.1.1.11.3 The Limits of Knowledge: The "Phenomenon" and the "Noumenon" 114

2.1.1.11.4 The Role of the Subconscious 117

2.1.1.12 Acquisition of New Knowledge of the Physical World by Inductive Reasoning: From Properties to Objects, Classes, Events, Laws and Theories 118

2.1.1.12.1 Assembling Properties into Objects and Observed Changes into Events 118

2.1.1.12.2 Grouping Objects into Classes 119

2.1.1.12.3 Grouping Events into Transformation Laws (Scientific Laws) and Theories 123

2.1.1.13 Utilization of Acquired Knowledge by Deductive Reasoning: Explanations, Previsions and Applications 136

2.1.1.13.3 Applications (Experiments and Inventions) 137

2.1.1.14 Methods of Reasoning for the Acquisition of New Knowledge 138

2.1.1.14.1 Propositions about Objects, Events, Classes and Laws 138

2.1.1.14.2 Particular Propositions about Objects and Events of the Supra-Molecular World 138

2.1.1.14.3 Propositions about Classes and Transformation Laws of the Supra-Molecular World 143

2.1.1.14.4 Propositions About the Identical Particles (and Their Homogenous Classes) and the Regular Events (and Their General Laws) of the Molecular-Atomic-Subatomic World 146

2.1.1.15 Methods of Reasoning in the Utilization of Acquired Knowledge 147

2.1.1.15.1 Arguments about Objects and Classes of the Supra-Molecular World 148

2.1.1.15.2 Arguments about Objects (Particles) and Classes of the Molecular-Atomic-Subatomic World 153

2.1.1.15.3 Arguments about Events and Laws of the Supra-Molecular World 154

2.1.1.15.4 Arguments about Events and Laws of the Molecular-Atomic-Subatomic World 158

2.1.1.15.5 Comments to the Basic Logical Principles 161

2.1.2 Knowledge of Actions 166

2.2 Knowledge of the Intellect (Intellect as an Object of Knowledge) 168

2.3 Knowledge of the Sensitiveness and Sentiments 169

2.4 Language 170

2.4.1 Language as an Expression of Knowledge 172

2.4.1.1 Language as an Expression of the Knowledge of the Physical World and of the Ideas of the Mind 173

2.4.1.2 Language as an Expression of the Knowledge of Sentiments and of Moral Events 187

2.4.2 Language as an Expression of Sentiments (Poetic, Command and Moral Language) 187

Chapter 3 The Sensitiveness 189

3.1 The Sensitiveness as a Generator of Sentiments 189

3.1.1 Sentiments and Their Objects 193

3.1.2 Particular versus Universal Sentiments 196

3.1.3 Sentiments as Related to Ideas and Actions 197

3.2 Judgment of Sentiments 198

3.2.1 Expression of Sentiments and the Works of Art 199

3.2.1.1 Expression of Sentiments by Language and the Literary Arts 200

3.2.1.2 Literary Arts 201

3.2.1.3 Autonomy of Art 203

3.2.1.4 Artistic versus Scientific Content 205

3.2.1.5 Art as Expression of Universal Sentiments 205

3.2.1.6 Art Critics and the Objectivity of the Value of Art 207

3.2.1.7 Art and Beauty 209

3.2.1.8 Representation, Expression and Understanding 210

3.2.1.9 The Problem of Fiction 213

3.2.1.10 Comment on the View of Art as Expression of Universal Sentiments 217

3.2.2 Expression of Sentiments by Sound 221

3.2.3 Expression of Sentiments by Imaging (Visual Arts) 223

3.2.3.1 Painting and Sculpture 223

3.2.3.2 Architecture 225

3.2.3.3 Expression of Sentiments by Combined Use of Language, Sound and Imaging (Behavior, Theater, Cinema) 226

3.2.4 The Works of Art as Aesthetic Objects 227

3.2.5 Art and Morality 228

3.3 Comparison with Other Philosophical Conceptions of Art 229

Chapter 4 The Power: Man's Action in the Society and in the Physical World 237

4.1 The Power as a Generator of Actions 237

4.2 Actions as Related to Ideas and Sentiments 240

4.3 Judgment of Actions 243

4.3.1 Judgment of Actions by the Strength Criterion 243

4.3.2 Judgment of Actions by the Value Criterion 244

4.3.2.1 Universal Actions and The Origin of Human Society 245

4.3.2.2 From the Particular Action of the Individual to the Universal Actions in the Society 246

4.3.2.3 The Justification of the Social Institutions 250

4.3.2.3.1 Correct-Rating of Actions Entails a "Power-Driven Society" 253

4.3.2.3.2 Wrong-Rating of Actions Entails a "Violence-Injured Society" 255

4.3.2.3.3 The Conditions for a Meaningful Voting 259

4.3.2.3.4 The Finality of Laws (Universal Actions) and the Political Parties 260

4.3.2.4 Laws as Community-Shared Projects that Define Classes of Actions 264

4.3.2.4.1 Social Institutions 264

4.3.2.4.2 Laws 265

4.3.2.4.3 Adjudication 268

Chapter 5 The Consciousness and Morality 273

5.1 The Consciousness as a Generator of Moral Events (Moral Decisions, Moral Feelings and Moral Acts) 273

5.1.1 Moral Events 274

5.1.2 Characteristics Peculiar to Moral Events 276

5.1.3 Distinction of Moral Events from Other Mental Products 278

5.1.4 Examples of Personal Actions and Moral Acts 281

5.2 Comparison with Other Theories of Consciousness 282

5.2.1 Theories of

Consciousness 282

5.2.2 The Consciousness and the Brain 287

5.3 Judgment of Moral Events 288

5.3.1 Judgment by the Morality Criterion 288

5.3.1.1 The Morality Criterion 288

5.3.1.1.1 Judgment of Moral Conceptions 289

5.3.1.1.2 Judgment of Moral Feelings 289

5.3.1.1.3 Judgment of Moral Acts 290

5.3.1.2 Moral Acts versus Personal Actions 292

5.3.1.3 Mention to Other Moral Conceptions 293

5.3.1.4 Demonstrative Examples 295

5.3.2 Judgment by the Value Criterion 300

5.3.2.1 Morality and Politics 301

5.3.2.2 Equality as Related to Morality and Politics 303

5.3.2.2.1 Equality between Individuals: The Right to Equal Treatment 304

5.3.2.2.2 Inequality between Individuals: The Right to Unequal (Individualized) Treatment 305

5.3.3 Supererogation, Moral Formalism, and Fanaticism 308

5.4 Free Will 311

5.4.1 Freedom of Personal Actions and of Moral Acts 312

5.4.1.1 Freedom of Personal Actions 312

5.4.1.2 Freedom of Moral Decision and Moral Acts (Free Will) 313

5.4.2 Choosing Between Moral Projects and Personal Projects 314

5.4.3 Comparison with Other Conceptions of Freedom 318

5.4.3.1 Incompatibilist Theories 319

5.4.3.2 Critical Comment 321

5.5 Moral Responsibility Without Freedom 323

5.5.1 Responsibility Is Consciousness of Being the Causal Agent 323

5.5.2 Apparent Freedom Is Due to the Extreme Complexity of the Brain 325

5.6 The Language of Morality (Moral Language) 330

Chapter 6 Analytical, Continental and Post-Modern Philosophy 333

6.1 Analytical and Continental Philosophy 334

6.2 Post-Modern Philosophy 335

6.2.1 Kuhn's Thought 335

6.2.2 Feyerabend's Thought 337

6.2.3 Rorty's Thought 339.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [343]-363) and index.

ISBN:

0761827862

0761827870

OCLC:

55792385