Carnap's construction of the world : the "Aufbau" and the emergence of logical empiricism

This book is a major contribution to the history of analytic philosophy in general and logical positivism in particular. It provides the first detailed and comprehensive study of Rudolf Carnap, one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century philosophy. This book fills a significant gap in the literature on the history of twentieth-century philosophy, and will be of particular importance to historians of analytic philosophy, philosophers of science, and historians of science. This Book Is A Major Contribution To The History Of Analytic Philosophy In General And Of Logical Positivism In Particular. It Provides The First Detailed And Comprehensive Study Of Rudolf Carnap, One Of The Most Influential Figures In Twentieth-century Philosophy. The Focus Of The Book Is Carnap's First Major Work, Der Logische Aufbau Der Welt (the Logical Structure Of The World). It Reveals Tensions In That Work By Placing It Within The Context Of German Epistemology And Philosophy Of Science In The Early Twentieth Century. Alan Richardson Argues That Carnap's Move To Philosophy Of Science In The 1930s Was Largely An Attempt To Resolve The Tension In His Early Epistemology. This Book Fills A Significant Gap In The Literature On The History Of Twentieth-century Philosophy. It Will Be Of Particular Importance To Historians Of Analytic Philosophy, Philosophers Of Science, And Historians Of Science. 1. Reconstructing The Aufbau. Fundamentals Of The Epistemology Of The Aufbau. The Received View Of The Aufbau. Russell's External World Program. Carnap's Aufbau And Russell's External World Program. The Aufbau In Context -- 2. The Problem Of Objectivity: An Overview Of Carnap's Constitutional Project. Knowledge Versus Experience: The Problem Of Subjective Origins. Structure And Objectivity. Purely Structural Definite Description. Quasi Analysis. Goodman's Objections To Quasi Analysis -- 3. An Outline Of The Constitutional Projects Of Objectivity. The Lowest Levels Of The Constitutional System. The Constitution Of The World Of Physics. The Constitution Of The Intersubjective World. The Elimination Of Rs. The Problem Of Objectivity. Alan W. Richardson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 230-238) And Index. This book is a major contribution to the history of analytic philosophy in general and of logical positivism in particular. It provides the first detailed and comprehensive study of Rudolf Carnap, one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century philosophy. The focus of the book is Carnap's first major work: Der logische Aufbau der Welt (The Logical Structure of the World). It reveals tensions within the context of German epistemology and philosophy of science in the early twentieth century. Alan Richardson argues that Carnap's move to philosophy of science in the 1930s was largely an attempt to dissolve the tension in his early epistemology. This book fills a significant gap in the literature on the history of twentieth-century philosophy. It will be of particular importance to historians of analytic philosophy, philosophers of science, and historians of science Content: Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Reconstructing the Aufbau 2. The problem of objectivity: an overview of Carnap's constitutional project 3. An outline of the constitutional projects for objectivity 4. The background to early Carnap: themes from Kant 5. The fundamentals of neo-Kantian epistemology 6. Carnap's neo-Kantian origins: Der Raum 7. Critical conventionalism 8. Epistemology between logic and science: the essential tension 9. After objectivity: logical empiricism as philosophy of science Bibliography Index.