Metaphilosophy: Philosophy in Philosophical Perspective

(Hardback)

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The definitive mission of metaphilosophy is to facilitate an understanding of how philosophy worksthe aim of the enterprise, the instrumental and procedural resources for its work, and the prospect of its success. Nicholas Rescher unites two facets of metaphilosophy to show that historical perspective and forward-thinking normative, or systematic, metaphilosophy cannot be independent of one another. The descriptive, or historical, metaphilosophy provides an account of what has been thought regarding the conduct of philosophical inquiry, and the prescriptive, or normative, metaphilosophy which deliberates about what is to be thought regarding the conduct of philosophizing. Rescher argues that metaphilosophy forms a part of philosophy itself. This is a unique feature of the discipline since the philosophy of biology is not a part of biology and the philosophy of mathematics is not a part of mathematics. Ultimately, the salient features of philosophizing in generalincluding the inherently controversial and discordant nature of philosophical doctrinesare also bound to afflict metaphilosophy. Thus, only by a careful analysis of the central issues can a plausible view of the enterprise be developed. Metaphilosophy: Philosophy in Philosophical Perspective challenges the static, compartmentalized view of metaphilosophy, providing insight for scholars and students of all areas of philosophy.

Reviews

This book collects and adds to work by Nicholas Rescher that variously puts philosophy itself in philosophical perspective. It displays the vast, deep, multidimensional knowledge of the field gained in his seventy years at work in it. Like contemporary philosophy itself, the book approaches its subject matter from many angles, always with revealing insight. -- Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University
In his new book, Nicholas Rescher, the Pittsburgh polymath, provides an exhaustive normative survey of the many dimensions of metaphilosophy. Very well informed and very useful for anyone interested in this field. -- Tom Rockmore, Peking University
Rescher brings the history of metaphilosophy alive, not only by making some of its greatest recent figures understandable as traditional or eccentric thinkers, but by introducing the philosophy of philosophy as something in which the reader can participate.He provides the tools and the motivation to grasp the essential features that have distinguished philosophical inquiry from all other branches of higher learning, and demonstrates what thinking in all cultures can gain from its study. This book is profoundly recommended for those seeking a careful, plain-spoken, but positively well-informed discussion of what philosophy can and should do for anyone hoping to understand its complicated progress and contemporary preoccupations. -- Dale Jacquette, Universitt Bern

Author Bio

Nicholas Rescher is Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh.