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Experience and Beyond

The Outline of A Darwinian Metaphysics

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Explores a key topic at the boundary between philosophy and the sciences
  • Investigates our capacity of observation and understanding of reality in the light of evolutionary naturalism
  • Discusses capacity of knowledge in the light of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Evolutionary Naturalism

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 1-30
  3. Evolution and Human Cognition

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 31-61
  4. Theory and Reality

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 95-157
  5. Truth, Language, and Objectivity

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 159-208
  6. Abstraction and Reification

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 209-224
  7. In Defense of Nominalism

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 225-243
  8. Space, Time, and Space-Time

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 245-277
  9. Causality and Counterfactuality

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 279-298
  10. Conclusion

    • Jan Faye
    Pages 325-329
  11. Back Matter

    Pages 331-350

About this book

This book presents a persuasive argument in favour of evolutionary naturalism and outlines what such a stance means for our capacity of observation and understanding reality. The author discusses how our capacity of knowledge is adapted to handle sensory information about the environment in the light of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The implication of this is that much of our thinking in science and philosophy that goes beyond our immediate experience rests on abstractions and hypostatization. This book rejects the possibility of having any knowledge of reality as it is in itself, while not denying that our capacity of conceptual abstractions is of great benefit for our survival. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Media, Cognition, and Communication, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jan Faye

About the author

Jan Faye teaches epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of science at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He has published extensively within these areas in Danish as well as English. Some of his latest books include After Postmodernism (2012) and The Nature of Scientific Thinking (2014).

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Experience and Beyond

  • Book Subtitle: The Outline of A Darwinian Metaphysics

  • Authors: Jan Faye

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31077-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-31076-3Published: 12 October 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-80957-1Published: 16 June 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-31077-0Published: 30 September 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 350

  • Topics: Epistemology, Philosophy of Nature, Philosophy of Biology

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access