The Principle of Sufficient Reason

Informationen zum Autor Alexander Pruss is assistant professor of philosophy at Georgetown University. He has published many papers on philosophy and mathematics! metaphysics! philosophy of religion! applied ethics! probability theory and geometric symmetrization theory. With Richard Gale he is co-editor of The Existence of God. Klappentext The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) says that all contingent facts must have explanation. In this volume, the first on the topic in the English language in nearly half a century, Alexander Pruss examines the substantive philosophical issues raised by the Principle Reason. Discussing various forms of the PSR and selected historical episodes, Pruss also provides a number of positive arguments, and shows how the PSR would advance the discussion in a number of disparate fields, including meta-ethics and the philosophy of mathematics. Zusammenfassung The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) says that all contingent facts must have explanation. In this 2006 volume! which was the first on the topic in the English language in nearly half a century! Alexander Pruss examines the substantive philosophical issues raised by the Principle of Sufficient Reason. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Introduction; 2. Reflection on some historical episodes; 3. The CP and the PSR; objections to the PSR; 4. A modern version of the Hume objection; 5. The anti-theological argument: 'There are no necessary beings'; 6. Modal fatalism; 7. Free will; 8. Quantum mechanics; 9. Turning Leibniz against the PSR; 10. What survives the criticisms of the PSR?; justification of the PSR; 11. Self-evidence; 12. Three Thomistic arguments; 13. Modal arguments; 14. Is the universe reasonable?; 15. Explanation of negative states of affairs; 16. The puzzle of the everyday applicability of the PSR; 17. Inference to the best or only explanation; 18. Inductive scepticism; 19. The nature of possibility; 20. Conclusions.

Klappentext

The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) says that all contingent facts must have explanation. In this volume, the first on the topic in the English language in nearly half a century, Alexander Pruss examines the substantive philosophical issues raised by the Principle Reason. Discussing various forms of the PSR and selected historical episodes, Pruss also provides a number of positive arguments, and shows how the PSR would advance the discussion in a number of disparate fields, including meta-ethics and the philosophy of mathematics.

Inhalt

1 Introduction; 2. Reflection on some historical episodes; 3. The CP and the PSR; objections to the PSR; 4. A modern version of the Hume objection; 5. The anti-theological argument: 'There are no necessary beings'; 6. Modal fatalism; 7. Free will; 8. Quantum mechanics; 9. Turning Leibniz against the PSR; 10. What survives the criticisms of the PSR?; justification of the PSR; 11. Self-evidence; 12. Three Thomistic arguments; 13. Modal arguments; 14. Is the universe reasonable?; 15. Explanation of negative states of affairs; 16. The puzzle of the everyday applicability of the PSR; 17. Inference to the best or only explanation; 18. Inductive scepticism; 19. The nature of possibility; 20. Conclusions.