Invariances

Autorentext

Robert Nozick was Pellegrino University Professor at Harvard University. His book Anarchy, State, and Utopia received a National Book Award.

Klappentext

therefore, will exhibit laws that are invariant under a wide range of significant transformations. Such invariance, we have seen, is exactly what constitutes objectiveness. Evolutionary cosmology gives us objective worlds.

Zusammenfassung
Nozick rethinks and transforms the concepts of truth, objectivity, necessity, contingency, consciousness, and ethics. Using an original method, he presents new philosophical theories that take account of advances in physics, evolutionary biology, economics, and cognitive neuroscience, and casts current cultural controversies in a wholly new light.

Inhalt

Introduction: On Philosophical Method I. THE STRUCTURE OF THE OBJECTIVE WORLD 1. Truth and Relativism Is Truth Relative? Who Wants Relativism? Truth in Space and Time The Truth Property Is a Theory of Truth Possible? Is Truth Socially Relative? Does Relativism Undercut Itself? The Correspondence Theory 2. Invariance and Objectivity Objective Facts Admissible Transformations Two Types of Philosophical Account The Ordering of Objectiveness Intersubjectivity Objective Beliefs and Biasing Factors Dimensions of Truth The Objectivity of Science The Functional View Underdetermination of Theory Rationality, Progress, Objectivity, and Veridicality 3. Necessity and Contingency Epistemology of Necessity Cross-Classifications On the Supposed Necessity of Water's Being H2O The Withering of Metaphysical Necessity Explaining Away Necessities Logical and Mathematical Necessity Degrees of Contingency The Nature of Actuality The Ultimate Theory of the World II. THE HUMAN WORLD AS PART OF THE OBJECTIVE WORLD 4. The Realm of Consciousness The Function of Consciousness Gradations of Awareness The Context of Consciousness The Zoom-Lens Theory Synthesizing and Filtering Data Common Knowledge The Functions of Phenomenology Mind-Body Relations 5. The Genealogy of Ethics The Theory of Ethics The Ubiquity of Ethics Coordination to Mutual Benefit Coordination via Ethical Norms The Evaluation of Systems of Coordination The Core Principle of Ethics Normative Force and the Normativity Module Evaluative Capacities Higher Layers of Ethics Ethical Truth and Ethical Objectivity The Unpredictability of Human Behavior Ethics and Conscious Self-Awareness Notes Index