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Thinking Off Your Feet
How Empirical Psychology Vindicates Armchair Philosophy
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See moreIn an original defense of armchair philosophy, Michael Strevens seeks to restore philosophy to its traditional position as an essential part of the quest for knowledge, by reshaping debates about the nature of philosophical thinking. His approach explores experimental philosophyβs methodological implications and the cognitive science of concepts.
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Description
Many philosophers believe they can gain knowledge about the world from the comfort of their armchairs, simply by reflecting on the nature of things. But how can the mind arrive at substantive knowledge of the world without seeking its input? Michael Strevens proposes an original defence of the armchair pursuit of philosophical knowledge, focusing on "the method of cases," in which judgements about category membershipβDoes this count as causation? Does that count as the right action to take?βare used to test philosophical hypotheses about such matters as causality, moral responsibility, and beauty.
Strevens argues that the method of cases is capable of producing reliable, substantial knowledge. His strategy is to compare concepts of philosophical things to concepts of natural kinds, such as water. Philosophical concepts, like natural kind concepts, do not contain the answers to philosophers' questions; armchair philosophy therefore cannot be conceptual analysis. But just as natural kind concepts provide a viable starting point for exploring the nature of the material world, so philosophical concepts are capable of launching and sustaining fruitful inquiry into philosophical matters using the method of cases. Agonising about unusual "edge cases," Strevens shows, can play a leading role in such discoveries.
Thinking Off Your Feet seeks to reshape current debates about the nature of philosophical thinking and the methodological implications of experimental philosophy, to make significant contributions to the cognitive science of concepts, and to restore philosophy to its traditional position as an essential part of the human quest for knowledge.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Thinking Off Your Feet by Michael Strevens is praised for its original contribution to philosophical analysis and its defense of the method of cases. The book offers an impressive defense of current armchair philosophy practices and significantly contributes to the cognitive science of concepts. It's noted for its beautiful writing, strong arguments, and integration of philosophy with psychology, benefiting both philosophers and psychologists.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780674986527
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 January 2019
Country: United States
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Illustration: 10 illus.
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 360
About the Author
Michael Strevens is Professor of Philosophy at New York University. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2017.
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