Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge: Reflections on Objectivist Epistemology (Ayn Rand Soc Philosophical Stu) (Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies)

The philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905–1982) is a cultural phenomenon. Her books have sold more than twenty-eight million copies, and countless individuals speak of her writings as having significantly influenced their lives. Despite her popularity, Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism has received little serious attention from academic philosophers. __Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge__ offers scholarly analysis of key elements of Ayn Rand’s radically new approach to epistemology. The four essays, by contributors intimately familiar with this area of her work, discuss Rand’s theory of concepts—including its new account of abstraction and essence—and its central role in her epistemology; how that view leads to a distinctive conception of the justification of knowledge; her realist account of perceptual awareness and its role in the acquisition of knowledge; and finally, the implications of that theory for understanding the growth of scientific knowledge. The volume concludes with critical commentary on the essays by distinguished philosophers with differing philosophical viewpoints and the author’s responses to those commentaries. This is the second book published in Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies, which was developed in conjunction with the Ayn Rand Society to offer a fuller scholarly understanding of this highly original and influential thinker. The Ayn Rand Society, an affiliated group of the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, seeks to foster scholarly study by philosophers of the philosophical thought and writings of Ayn Rand.

The philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905–1982) is a cultural phenomenon. Her books have sold more than twenty-eight million copies, and countless individuals speak of her writings as having significantly influenced their lives. Despite her popularity, Rand's philosophy of Objectivism has received little serious attention from academic philosophers.

Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge offers scholarly analysis of key elements of Ayn Rand's radically new approach to epistemology. The four essays, by contributors intimately familiar with this area of her work, discuss Rand's theory of concepts—including its new account of abstraction and essence—and its central role in her epistemology; how that view leads to a distinctive conception of the justification of knowledge; her realist account of perceptual awareness and its role in the acquisition of knowledge; and finally, the implications of that theory for understanding the growth of scientific knowledge. The volume concludes with critical commentary on the essays by distinguished philosophers with differing philosophical viewpoints and the author's responses to those commentaries.

This is the second book published in Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies, which was developed in conjunction with the Ayn Rand Society to offer a fuller scholarly understanding of this highly original and influential thinker. The Ayn Rand Society, an affiliated group of the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, seeks to foster scholarly study by philosophers of the philosophical thought and writings of Ayn Rand.

Contents 8 Preface 10 Part One: Essays 16 Ayn Rand’s Theory of Concepts: Rethinking Abstraction and Essence / Allan Gotthelf 18 Conceptualization and Justification / Gregory Salmieri 56 Perceptual Awareness as Presentational / Onkar Ghate 100 Concepts, Context, and the Advance of Science / James G. Lennox 127 Part Two: Discussion 150 Concepts and Kinds 152 Rand on Concepts, Definitions, and the Advance of Science: Comments on Gotthelf and Lennox / Paul E. Griffiths 154 Natural Kinds and Rand’s Theory of Concepts: Reflections on Griffiths / Onkar Ghate 163 Definitions 176 Rand on Definitions—One Size Fits All?: Comments on Gotthelf / Jim Bogen 178 Taking the Measure of a Definition: Response to Bogen / Allan Gotthelf 188 Concepts and Theory Change 198 On Concepts that Change with the Advance of Science: Comments on Lennox / Richard M. Burian 200 Conceptual Development versus Conceptual Change: Response to Burian / James G. Lennox 216 Perceptual Awareness 228 In Defense of the Theory of Appearing: Comments on Ghate and Salmieri / Pierre Le Morvan 230 Forms of Awareness and “Three-Factor” Theories / Gregory Salmieri 241 Direct Perception and Salmieri’s “Forms of Awareness” / Bill Brewer 257 Keeping Up Appearances: Reflections on the Debate over Perceptual Infallibilism / Benjamin Bayer 262 Uniform Abbreviations of Works by Ayn Rand 284 References 286 Contributors 298 Index 302 Ayn Rand's Theory Of Concepts: Rethinking Abstraction And Essence / Allan Gotthelf -- Conceptualization And Justification / Gregory Salmieri -- Perceptual Awareness As Presentational / Onkar Ghate -- Concepts, Context , And The Advance Of Science / James G. Lennox -- Rand On Concepts, Definitions, And The Advance Of Science: Comments On Gotthelf And Lennox / Paul E. Griffiths -- Natural Kinds And Rand's Theory Of Concepts: Reflections On Griffiths / Onkar Ghate -- Rand On Definitions - One Size Fits All? Comments On Gotthelf / Jim Bogen -- Taking The Measure Of A Definition: Response To Bogen / Allan Gotthelf -- On Concepts That Change With The Advance Of Science: Comments On Lennox / Richard M. Burian -- Conceptual Development Versus Conceptual Change: Response To Burian / James G. Lennox -- In Defense Of The Theory Of Appearing: Comments Oh Ghate And Salmieri / Pierre Le Morvan -- Forms Of Awareness And Three-factor Theories / Gregory Salmieri -- Direct Perception And Salmieri's Forms Of Awareness / Bill Brewer -- Keeping Up Appearances: Reflections On The Debate Over Perceptual Infallibilism / Benjamin Bayer. Allan Gotthelf, Editor, James G. Lennox, Associate Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.