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Introduction: Rorty as a Critical Philosopher
- By W. P. Małecki, Chris Voparil
Richard Rorty
Edited by W. P. Małecki, Chris Voparil
Book:

On Philosophy and Philosophers

Published online:

10 October 2020

Print publication:

15 October 2020, pp 1-10
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Summary

This introduction provides a context for understanding the volume’s contents and their contemporary significance. First, it establishes a frame for understanding Rorty’s intellectual development, in general, and the essays collected in the volume, in particular, through Rorty’s enduring commitment to the idea of doing “critical philosophy.” Second, it offers a précis of the individual essays, including what they contribute to our knowledge of Rorty’s thought and to ongoing philosophical debates.

Philosophical issues in the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence 1
Jean Schneider
Journal:

International Journal of Astrobiology / Volume 12 / Issue 3 / July 2013

Published online by Cambridge University Press:

20 June 2013, pp. 259-262
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In the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence, it is essential to clarify what is to be meant by ‘life’ and ‘intelligence’. I first analyse what it means to ‘define’ these words. I will show that some philosophical prejudice is unavoidable. As a working hypothesis, I consider two types of philosophy: ‘natural philosophy’, seeking for some essence of things, and ‘critical (or analytical) philosophy’, devoted to the analysis of the procedures by which we claim to construct a reality. An extension of critical philosophy, epistemo-analysis (i.e. the psycho-analysis of concepts) is presented and applied to the definition of exolife and to extraterrestrial ‘intelligence’. Some pragmatic conclusions are finally drawn for future search strategies.

1 - The origin and aim of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason
- By Heiner F. Klemme
Edited by Andrews Reath, University of California, Riverside, Jens Timmermann, University of St Andrews, Scotland
Book:

Kant's 'Critique of Practical Reason'

Published online:

06 August 2010

Print publication:

08 April 2010, pp 11-30
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Summary

Immanuel Kant seeks to establish in the Critique of Practical Reason 'that there is pure practical reason'. The aim of the Critique of Practical Reason is inverse compared with the aim of the Critique of Pure Reason: Whereas the first Critique is supposed to show that one cannot apply pure reason constitutively in a speculative sense, the second Critique is supposed to substantiate the view that objections against the practical constitutive application of pure reason put forward by the empiricists and sceptics are vacuous. In the preface to the Critique of Practical Reason, Kant comments on a few objections that have been raised against his critical philosophy in general, as well as against his foundation of moral philosophy in particular, since 1781. In the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant distinguishes between the 'critique of pure speculative reason' and the 'Critique of Pure Practical Reason'.