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Can we prove the necessity of our best physical theories by rational means, without appeal to experience? This book recounts a few ingenious attempts to derive physical theories by reason only, beginning with Descartes' geometric construction of the world, and finishing with recent derivations of quantum mechanics from natural axioms. Deductions based on theological, metaphysical, or transcendental arguments are worth remembering for the ways they motivated and structured physical theory, even though we would now criticize their excessive confidence in the power of the mind. Other deductions more modestly relied on criteria for the comprehensibility of nature, including forms of measurability, causality, homogeneity, and correspondence. The central thesis of this book is that such criteria, when properly applied to idealized systems, effectively determine some of our most important theories as well as the mathematical character of the laws of physics. The relevant arguments are not purely rational, because only experience can tell us to which extent nature is comprehensible in a given way. Nor do they block the possibility of ever more varied forms of comprehensibility. They nonetheless suggest the inevitability of much of our theoretical physics.

Physics --- Practical reason --- Practical rationality --- Practical reasoning --- Rationality, Practical --- Reasoning, Practical --- Reason --- Philosophy --- History --- History. --- Methodology.

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Having its seeds in the 2nd International Lauener Symposium held in honour of Dagfinn Føllesdal, the present collection contains a rich, kaleidoscopic ensemble of previously unpublished contributions by leading authors, representing diverse approaches to a variety of philosophical themes on which Føllesdal has had a longstanding, formative impact. Føllesdal himself contributes an orientating essay -continuing to develop his pioneering theory of reference -as well as in-depth commentaries on each of the other authors' elaborated papers plus candid answers in the added interview. The volume assembles a wealth of original articles containing in part direct discussions of Føllesdal's work and covering a broad range of topics like subjectivity, intersubjectivity, objectivity, rationality, logics and mathematics, choice theory, values, modalities, intentionality, individuation, perception, communication, meaning, reference, the slingshot, one- and two-sorted semantics, evidence, neuropsychology, space and time, science and society, methodology, fallibilism, the relative a priori, justification, holism, the life-world, reflective equilibrium, empathy, and ethics. Moreover the book includes an incisive memoir of Føllesdal the philosopher as well as a spanning interview with him, which are both critically directing toward Føllesdal's subtly differentiated understanding of the dynamic philosophical horizon he shares in. With contributions from Dagfinn Føllesdal, Charles Parsons, Patrick Suppes, Jon Elster, John Perry, Michael Friedman, Dag Prawitz, Wilhelm K. Essler, David Woodruff Smith, Olav Gjelsvik, Graciela De Pierris, Nils Roll-Hansen, Christian Beyer, Øystein Linnebo, Michael Frauchiger.

Practical reason. --- Practical rationality --- Practical reasoning --- Rationality, Practical --- Reasoning, Practical --- Reason

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Resistance used to mean irrational and reactionary behaviour, assuming that rationality resides on the side of progress and its parties. The end of the Cold War allows us to drop ideological and prejudicial analysis. Indeed, we recognise that resistance is a historical constant, and its relation to rationality or irrationality is not predetermined. This volume asks: to what extent are social scientific conceptions of 'resistances' sui generis, or borrowed from natural sciences by metaphor an...

Practical reason. --- Practical rationality --- Practical reasoning --- Rationality, Practical --- Reasoning, Practical --- Reason

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In Beyond Rationality: Contemporary Issues, scholars from a variety of disciplines explore the concept of ""irrationality"" in today's increasingly complex world. Combining both theory and practice, this is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand such diverse puzzles as why citizens often readily support dictatorships, how terrorists ""reason,"" and why seemingly rational people often make irrational choices.

Irrationalism (Philosophy) --- Practical reason --- Practical rationality --- Practical reasoning --- Rationality, Practical --- Reasoning, Practical --- Reason --- Absurd (Philosophy) --- Belief and doubt --- Philosophy --- Rationalism

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Practical conflicts pervade human life. Agents have many different desires, goals, and commitments, all of which can come into conflict with each other. How can practical reasoning help to resolve these practical conflicts? In this collection of essays a distinguished roster of philosophers analyse the diverse forms of practical conflict. Their aim is to establish an understanding of the sources of these conflicts, to investigate the challenge they pose to an adequate conception of practical reasoning, and to assess the degree to which that challenge can be met. These essays will serve as a major resource for students of philosophy but will also interest students and professionals in related fields of the social sciences such as psychology, political science, sociology and economics.

Philosophical anthropology --- Practical reason --- Conflict (Psychology) --- Practical rationality --- Practical reasoning --- Rationality, Practical --- Reasoning, Practical --- Intrapsychic conflict --- Reason --- Adjustment (Psychology) --- Motivation (Psychology) --- Arts and Humanities --- Philosophy --- Practical reason.