Robert Nozick / A.R. Lacey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lacey, A. R. (Alan Robert), author.

Series:

Philosophy now.

Philosophy now

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nozick, Robert.

Philosophy--Criticism and interpretation.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 248 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Durham : Acumen Publishing, 2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Although best known for the hugely influential Anarchy, State and Utopia, Robert Nozick (1938–2002) eschewed the label "political philosopher" because the vast majority of his writings and attention have focused on other areas. Indeed the breadth of Nozick's work is perhaps greater than that of any other contemporary philosopher. This book is the first to give full and proper discussion of Nozick's philosophy as a whole, including his influential work on the theory of knowledge, his notion of "tracking the truth", his metaphysical writings on personal identity and free will, his evolutionary account of rationality, his varying treatments of Newcomb's paradox and his ideas on the meaning of life. Illuminating and informative, the book will be welcomed as an authoritative guide to Nozick's philosophical thinking.

Contents:

Cover; Half Title; Title; Copyright; Contents; Preface; 1 Introduction; Introduction: analytic philosophy; Changes of interest ; Nozick's change of approach: proof and explanation; Coercion; Explanation and understanding; Truth and the aim of philosophy ; The unity of Nozick's philosophy; Summary; 2 Anarchy, State, and Utopia: the moral basis; Introduction; The role of the individual; The basis of rights; Animals and angels; Welfarist criticisms of Nozick; Libertarian criticisms of Nozick ; The nature of rights; The theory of justice I: justice in transfer; Blurring the distinction

The theory of justice II: justice in acquisition and Locke's provisoThe theory of justice III: rectification and compensation; Nozick on Rawls; Summary; 3 Anarchy, State, and Utopia: the political outcome; Introduction; Explaining and justifying: the program ; The execution I: the state of nature ; The execution II: growth of the state; Practical objections; Objections of principle I: transitivity and compensation; Objections of principle II: procedural rights and incomplete knowledge; Utopia I: the framework; Utopia II: objections; Summary; 4 The later ethics and politics; Introduction

Ethics and motivationValue as organic unity; Value and disvalue; Organic unity as value; Some criticisms; The basis of value; The ethical pull; Deontology and teleology: rights; The is/ought question; Political implications: symbolic utility; Summary ; 5 Epistemology; Introduction: internalism and externalism; Outline of Nozick's theory; Counterfactuals; Scepticism and closure; The price that Nozick pays; Some criticisms of Nozick; Internalism and externalism again; Evidence; Summary; 6 Rationality; Introduction: rationality in general; Principles and their uses

Practical rationality in the dissertationDecision theory I: the first two discussions; Decision theory II: the third discussion; Decision theory III: symbolic utility again; Belief and acceptance; Evolution and its role; Types and limits of rationality; Summary ; 7 Metaphysics I: personal identity; Introduction: identity in general; Nozick's theory; Personal identity I: general considerations; Personal identity II: ties and caring; Personal identity III: closeness; Interlude: the unity of Nozick's philosophy; Personal identity IV: the nature of the self; Summary

8 Metaphysics II: explaining existenceIntroduction: ""Why is there something rather than nothing?""; Nozick's approach; Fecundity; Self-subsumption; Limited fecundity; Wedin's criticisms; Summary ; 9 Metaphysics III: free will and retribution; Introduction; The indeterministic approach; Tracking again; Retribution; Summary ; 10 The meaning of life; Introduction: conditions for meaningfulness; Ein Sof and its problems; Self-subsumption again; The dialectic of meaning and value; Conclusion: philosophy and the arts and sciences; Summary ; Guide to further reading; Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-317-48997-7

1-317-48998-5

1-315-71078-1

1-282-53460-2

1-84465-310-2

9786612534607

9781315710785

OCLC:

898771540