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David Papineau presents a controversial view of human reason, portraying it as a normal part of the natural world, and drawing on the empirical sciences to illuminate its workings. In these six interconnected essays he discusses both theoretical and practical rationality, and shows how evolutionary theory, decision theory, and quantum mechanics offer fresh approaches to some long-standing problems.
This collection investigates whether human reason can be fully understood as a natural phenomenon rooted in evolutionary and physical processes. David Papineau, a prominent philosopher of science, utilizes his expertise in epistemology and the philosophy of mind to bridge the gap between abstract reasoning and empirical science. By synthesizing insights from evolutionary biology, decision theory, and quantum mechanics, he argues for a naturalistic framework that demystifies how humans arrive at rational conclusions.
What You Will Find
Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to naturalistic philosophy, noting its ability to synthesize disparate scientific fields into a coherent argument. Readers frequently highlight the technical rigor of the prose, which is best suited for those with a background in analytic philosophy or the philosophy of science.
Page Count:
254
Publication Date:
2003-03-27
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199243840
ISBN-13:
9780199243846
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