Ideas, concepts, and reality / John W. Burbidge.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Burbidge, John W., 1936-

Series:

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of ideas ; 59.

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of ideas, 0711-0995

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Idea (Philosophy).

Concepts.

Mind and reality.

Thought and thinking.

Physical Description:

x, 169 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Montréal : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2013]

Summary:

Do concepts exist independently of the mind? Where does objective reality diverge from subjective experience? John Burbidge calls upon the work of some of the foremost thinkers in philosophy to address these questions, developing a nuanced account of the relationship between the mind and the external world. In Ideas, Concepts, and Reality John Burbidge adopts, as a starting point, Gottlob Frege's distinction between "ideas," which are subjective recollections of past sensations, and "concepts," which are shared by many and make communication possible. Engaging with Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, and many others, the book argues that concepts are not eternal and unchanging, as Frege suggested, but open to revision. Burbidge suggests we can move from ideas to thoughts that can be refined to the point where they acquire independent and objective status as concepts. At the same time, they are radically connected to other concepts which either complement or are differentiated from them. Ideas, Concepts, and Reality presents an original perspective on the ways in which rigorous thought differs from other operations of the mind. Daringly inventive and accessibly written, the book will appeal to philosophers at all levels of interest. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part 1 From Ideas to Concepts 11

1 Frege and Psychologism 13

2 From Sensations to Ideas: The Empiricists 20

3 How Ideas Emerge: Hegel 31

4 Language 39

5 From Retentive to Mechanical Memory 48

6 Thoughts and Descartes's Rules 57

7 Second Rule: Analysis and Definition 64

8 Third Rule: Synthesis and Unity 74

9 Fourth Rule: Comprehensiveness 81

10 Conceiving 90

Part 2 Tendrils of Thought 97

11 Hegel's Logic 99

12 Syllogisms 107

13 Modus ponens et al. 113

14 Arguments from Analogy 124

15 Linguistic Variations 136

16 Ideas and Concepts 147.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0773541276

9780773541276

0773541659

9780773541658

OCLC:

818414634