The importance of Spinoza for the modern philosophy of science : can the revival of Spinoza's naturalism refute cultural relativism? / Nancy Brenner-Golomb.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brenner-Golomb, Nancy.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Spinoza, Benedictus de, 1632-1677.

Spinoza, Benedictus de.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (425 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Frankfurt ; New Brunswick : Ontos Verlag, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The question raised in this book is why Spinoza's work which comes so close to the modern view of natural science is not prominent in the social sciences. The answer suggested is that this is due to the lingering influence of the Cartesian differentiation between the domain of science, dealing with material bodies in space and time, and the realm of thought to which the mind belongs. Spinoza's rejection of this mind/body dualism was based on his conviction that the human mind was an essential part of the 'forces' which maintain human existence. Since this view fits so well the evolutionary view of life, the book suggests that after Darwin, when this dualism became untenable, it was replaced by a nature versus culture dichotomy. The book examines whether the history of the philosophy of science supports this explanation. The author believes that answering this question is important because of the rising influence of cultural relativism which endangers the very survival of modern science and political stability.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

FOREWORD:

INTRODUCTION

Chapter I. Spinoza's Methodological Approach

Chapter II. The Correspondence between a Comprehensive Structure of Science and a Comprehensive Structure of Nature

Chapter III. The Necessary Distinction Between Science and a Presupposed View

Chapter IV. The Structural View

Chapter V. The Notion of Essence in Modern Science

Chapter VI. Intuition, Certainty and Innate Ideas

Chapter VII. Free Will, Choice and the Power of the Mind

Chapter VIII. The Connection between an Appeal to Reason and Rational Choice

Chapter IX. Intermezzo: Imagination and Reason. Metaphors and Logical Analysis

Chapter X. Note on the Timing of the Inversion of the Cartesian View

Chapter XI. Political Freedom.

Chapter XII. The Indirect Effect of Reason on Culture

Chapter XIII. The Assumed Central Role of Language in Science and Moral Philosophy

Chapter XIV. A modern view in the spirit of Spinoza

CONCLUDING REMARKS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

3-86838-064-7

3-11-031959-4

OCLC:

851970833