Philosophy from a Skeptical Perspective
- New York Cambridge University 2008
- 163p
includes index and biblioraphy
1 Introduction The Practical Side of Philosophy The History of Epistemology Error Avoidance and the Foundations of Knowledge A Word about Metaphysics 2 Skepticism The Strange Story of the Idea of Error Avoidance Radical Skepticism The Case of Mathematics and Logic The Skeptical Arguments Skepticism in Epistemology Practical Implications 3 Science The Critique of Empiricism The Probability Theory of Rational Beliefs The Minimum Unexpectedness Hypothesis on Beliefs More on the Paradoxes of Empiricism Theories Adjusted Ad Hoc Simplicity and Occam`s Razor Predictions and Explanations Tradition Applications 4 Ethics Skepticism in Ethics Toward a Psychological Theory of Moral Judgments Maximizing the Welfare of Humanity Liberalism as the Default Option Utilitarian versus Kantian Ethics Sympathy Moral Disputes More Against Reductionism in Ethics 5 Politics The Justification of Sovereignty Toward a Psychological Theory of the Morality of Politics The Fear of Social Disorders Political Disputes The Dissolution of the Nation-State Democracy versus Dictatorship 6 Aesthetics Skepticism in Aesthetics Aesthetics and Beauty Toward a Psychological Theory of Beauty The Evolution of Art Non-Beautiful Art Beauty and Pleasure Tragedy Repetitions (i) Repetitions (2) Pretty Average Faces Humor Non-Reductionism and Non-Relativism Aesthetic Disputes 7 Conclusion The Next Step Psychology The Meaning of Life