In Defence of Objectivity: On realism, existentialism and politics (Routledge Studies in Critical Realism)

First Published in 2004. This volume addresses the interlocking themes of realism, objectivity, existentialism and (eco-socialist) politics, based on critical realism. However, it moves beyond the purely scientific orientation of earlier contributions to this philosophy, to further develop the themes. The title essay defends objectivity in science, everyday knowledge, and ethics, and examines both subjective idealism and existentialist critiques of objectivity. The other essays examine some of the same themes but from different angles, keeping the politics of the issues at the forefront. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 List of abbreviations......Page 9 Introduction......Page 10 PART I......Page 14 The inorganic body and the ambiguity of freedom......Page 16 Value, rationality and the environment......Page 32 Unhewn demonstrations......Page 46 Critical realism and the heritage of the Enlightenment......Page 56 On slave rebellions in morals......Page 68 The right rebellion in the wrong cause: Heidegger, technology and the market......Page 78 Sartre: intimations of authenticity......Page 92 Sartre's mistaken approach to Marxism......Page 104 Berdyaev's socialism......Page 110 PART II......Page 138 In defence of objectivity......Page 140 Index......Page 254 This volume develops and defends critical realism whilst engaging critically with existentialist philosophy in a number of ways from existentialist thinkers as diverse as Kierkegaard, R.D. Laing, Heidegger and Sartre. Andrew Collier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.