The problem of naturalism : analytic perspectives, continental virtues / Brian Lightbody.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lightbody, Brian.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Naturalism.

Analysis (Philosophy).

Continental philosophy.

Physical Description:

v, 139 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Lexington Books, [2013]

Summary:

Philosophers often use the term "naturalism" to describe their work. It is commonplace to see a metaphysical, epistemological, and/or ethical position self-described and described by others as one that is "naturalized." But what, if anything, does the term "naturalized" add to-or subtract from-the position being articulated? In The Problem of Naturalism: Analytic Perspectives, Continental Virtues, Brian Lightbody demonstrates that "naturalism" connotes such a broad meaning that it is difficult to demarcate naturalism from philosophy itself. Still, many philosophers have tried to provide nontrivial and nonvacuous definitions of the term. This book, by and large, argues that such attempts are unsuccessful. Instead, it claims that naturalism is an attitude and not a methodology or a substantive position. Lightbody articulates the guidelines the naturalist needs to follow, as well as the virtues he or she needs to practice, in order for the term naturalism to do any meaningful work. Much of this book explains and critiques the various attempts to define naturalism in Anglo-American secondary literature. Some of the criticisms raised seem to emanate from the internal logic of the naturalistic position being expressed. However, others have emerged from gleaning the work of Continental thinkers such as Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, and Foucault. Lightbody uses these thinkers in order to expose the unjustified implicit, and sometimes explicit, assumptions that many naturalistic philosophers presume to hold when they attempt to render a clear, distinct, and robust naturalist position. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 What is Naturalism? 5

2 Methodological Naturalism 33

3 Substance Naturalism 53

4 Varieties of Naturalism: Ontological Naturalism 73

5 Varieties of Naturalism: Epistemological Naturalism 91

6 Varieties of Naturalism: Ethical Naturalism 107.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780739164839

073916483X

9780739183991

0739183990

OCLC:

825047380