Evaluating Philosophies (Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science Book 295)

The first part deals with philosophies that have had a significant input, positive or negative, on the search for truth; it suggests that scientific and technological are either stimulated or smothered by a philosophical matrix; and it outlines two ontological doctrines believed to have nurtured research in modern times: systemism (not to be mistaken for holism) and materialism (as an extension of physicalism). The second part discusses a few practical problems that are being actively discussed in the literature, from climatology and information science to economics and legal philosophy. This discussion is informed by the general principles analyzed in the first part of the book. Some of the conclusions are that standard economic theory is just as inadequate as Marxism; that law and order are weak without justice; and that the central equation of normative climatology is a tautology–which of course does not put climate change in doubt. The third and final part of the book tackles a set of key concepts, such as those of indicator, energy, and existence, that have been either taken for granted or neglected. For instance, it is argued that there is at least one existence predicate, and that it is unrelated to the so-called existential quantifier; that high level hypotheses cannot be put to the test unless conjoined with indicator hypotheses; and that induction cannot produce high level hypotheses because empirical data do not contain any transempirical concepts. Realism, materialism, and systemism are thus refined and vindicated. ​ Argues For A Precise Criterion To Evaluate The Worth Of A Philosophy In Order To Avoid Doctrines That Block The Advancement Of Knowledge. Presents A Sample Of Problems In Scientific, Humanistic, Or Social Research That Have Been Neglected Or Approached In A Dubious Method Due To Tradition, Political Interests, Or Even Temperament Standing As Philosophy. Philosophies And Phobosophies -- The Philosophical Matrix Of Scientific Progress -- Systemics And Materialism -- Technoscience? -- Climate And Logic -- Informatics : One Or Multiple? -- Wealth And Well-being, Economic Growth And Integral Development -- Can Standard Economic Theory Account For Crises? -- Marxist Philosophy : Promise And Reality -- Rules Of Law : Just And Unjust -- Subjective Probabilities : Admissible In Science? -- Does Inductive Logic Work? -- Bridging Theories To Data -- Matter And Energy : Physical Or Metaphysical Concepts? -- Does Quantum Physics Refute Realism, Materialism And Determinism? -- Parallel Universes? Digital Physics? -- Can Functionalist Psychology Explain Anything? -- Knowledge Pyramids Or Rosettes? -- Existence : Single Or Double? -- Conclusion : Valuation Criterion. Mario Bunge. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Philosophies and Phobosophies....Pages 3-13 The Philosophical Matrix of Scientific Progress....Pages 15-34 Systemics and Materialism....Pages 35-47 Front Matter....Pages 49-49 Technoscience?....Pages 51-56 Climate and Logic....Pages 57-59 Informatics: One or Multiple?....Pages 61-64 Wealth and Well-being, Economic Growth and Integral Development....Pages 65-76 Can Standard Economic Theory Account for Crises?....Pages 77-82 Marxist Philosophy: Promise and Reality....Pages 83-93 Rules of Law: Just and Unjust....Pages 95-102 Front Matter....Pages 103-103 Subjective Probabilities: Admissible in Science?....Pages 105-113 Does Inductive Logic Work?....Pages 115-118 Bridging Theories to Data....Pages 119-130 Matter and Energy: Physical or Metaphysical Concepts?....Pages 131-138 Does Quantum Physics Refute Realism, Materialism and Determinism?....Pages 139-149 Parallel Universes? Digital Physics?....Pages 151-157 Can Functionalist Psychology Explain Anything?....Pages 159-165 Knowledge Pyramids or Rosettes?....Pages 167-171 Existence: Single or Double?....Pages 173-179 Conclusion: Valuation Criterion....Pages 181-183 Back Matter....Pages 185-200 Philosophies, whether genuine or spurious, are not usually adopted because of their conceptual, empirical, or moral merits, but because of tradition, political interests, or even temperament-none of which is a good reason. The present book argues for a precise criterion: A philosophy is worth what it helps learn, act, conserve our common heritage, and get along with fellow humans. Book jacket Annotation. This text surveys philosophies that have had a significant positive or negative impact on the search for truth, offering systemism and materialism as research-nurturing doctrines. It covers problems under current discussion, and points out neglected topics