The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism: A Comprehensive Guide to the Major Themes and Debates in Naturalism

The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

by Kelly James Clark

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3945 KB
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Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	543 pages
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The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism is a comprehensive overview of the major themes and debates in naturalism. Edited by David M. Armstrong and Martin Mahner, the Companion features essays by leading scholars in the field, including John Hawthorne, Hilary Kornblith, and Trenton Merricks. The Companion is divided into four parts:

1. Metaphysics and Epistemology: This section explores the metaphysical and epistemological foundations of naturalism, including the nature of reality, the existence of God, and the limits of human knowledge.
2. Ethics and Politics: This section examines the ethical and political implications of naturalism, including the nature of morality, the relationship between ethics and science, and the justification of political authority.
3. Mind and Language: This section explores the philosophical issues surrounding the mind and language, including the nature of consciousness, the relationship between mind and body, and the meaning of language.
4. History and Future of Naturalism: This section provides a historical overview of naturalism, as well as a discussion of the future prospects for the philosophy.

The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism is an essential resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of naturalism. The Companion provides a comprehensive overview of the major themes and debates in the field, and features essays by leading scholars in the field.

Metaphysics and Epistemology

The metaphysics of naturalism is the study of the nature of reality. Naturalists reject the idea that there is a supernatural realm or that there are any non-natural entities, such as God or spirits. Instead, naturalists argue that reality is made up of only natural entities, such as matter and energy. The epistemology of naturalism is the study of the limits of human knowledge. Naturalists argue that we can only know what we can experience through our senses or through reason. We cannot know anything about the supernatural realm or about non-natural entities, because these things are beyond our experience.

Ethics and Politics

The ethics of naturalism is the study of the nature of morality. Naturalists argue that morality is not based on religious or supernatural beliefs, but rather on human reason and experience. Naturalists believe that we should act in ways that promote the well-being of ourselves and others. The politics of naturalism is the study of the relationship between ethics and politics. Naturalists argue that the state should be based on secular principles and that it should not promote any particular religion or worldview.

Mind and Language

The philosophy of mind is the study of the nature of the mind. Naturalists argue that the mind is a natural phenomenon and that it is not separate from the body. They believe that the mind is made up of the same material as the rest of the body and that it is governed by the same laws of nature. The philosophy of language is the study of the meaning of language. Naturalists argue that the meaning of words is determined by their use in everyday language. They believe that there is no such thing as a universal language and that the meaning of words can vary from culture to culture.

History and Future of Naturalism

Naturalism has a long and distinguished history. The first naturalists were the ancient Greek philosophers, such as Democritus and Epicurus. Naturalism was revived in the 17th century by philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and Baruch Spinoza. In the 19th century, naturalism was popularized by scientists such as Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley. In the 20th century, naturalism was defended by philosophers such as John Dewey and W.V.O. Quine. Today, naturalism is one of the most popular philosophies in the world.

The future of naturalism is bright. Naturalism is a powerful and persuasive philosophy that has the potential to help us understand the world around us. As we learn more about the natural world, we will continue to develop our understanding of naturalism and its implications for our lives.

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The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

by Kelly James Clark

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	543 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE