
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Problems of Rationality is the eagerly awaited fourth volume of Donald Davidson's philosophical writings. From the 1960s until his death in August 2003 Davidson was perhaps the most influential figure in English-language philosophy, and his work has had a profound effect upon the discipline. His unified theory of the interpretation of thought, meaning, and action holds that rationality is a necessary condition for both mind and interpretation. Davidson here develops this theory to illuminate value judgements and how we understand them; to investigate what the conditions are for attributing mental states to an object or creature; and to grapple with the problems presented by thoughts and actions which seem to be irrational. Anyone working on knowledge, mind, and language will find these essays essential reading.
This volume investigates the fundamental question of how rationality functions as a necessary condition for the interpretation of human thought, meaning, and action. Donald Davidson, a central figure in 20th-century analytic philosophy, utilizes his established unified theory to examine the complexities of mental states and value judgments. The text serves as a rigorous exploration of the logical boundaries that define rational behavior, specifically addressing the paradoxes presented by seemingly irrational thoughts and actions.
What You Will Find
Experts recognize this collection as a foundational contribution to the study of mind and language, reflecting the culmination of Davidson's long-standing philosophical project. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in analytic philosophy to fully engage with the arguments presented.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2004-06-03
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0198237553
ISBN-13:
9780198237556
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!