Language, Truth and Knowledge: Contributions to the Philosophy of Rudolf Carnap (Vienna Circle Institute Library Book 2)

This collection originated at a conference organized by the Institute Vienna Circle and the University of Vienna on the Vienna Circle and Logical Empiricism and was held in Vienna in July 2001. (cf. The Vienna Orcle and Logical Empiricism. Re-evaluation and Future Perspectives. Edited by Frie­ drich Stadler. Dordrecht-Boston-London: Kluwer, 2003, Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook 10). All the essays in this volume with one exception are based on talks presented on that occasion and appear here for the first time. The contributions address a broad range of issues in the philosophy of Rudolf Carnap, but two themes stand out. Many authors respond directly or indirectly to objections against various aspects of Carnap's work: the pro gram of Der Logische Aufbau der Welt, his views on ontology and realism, and his explication of disposition predicates. w. v. Quine's shadow looms large. Rising to the challenge, these authors constructively modify Carnapian ideas or explore alternatives without abandoning key tenets of his empiri­ cism. As our understanding of Carnap's work in its historical context has become more nuanced and detailed over the past decade, the room for dis agreement over its interpretation has grown. Several of the papers aim to put the record straight with respect to such works as Logische Syntax der Sprache, Der Logische Aufbau der Welt, and Der Raum. This collection then attests to the continuing and growing attraction of Carnap's philosophy. This collection, with essays by Graham H. Bird, Jaakko Hintikka, Ilkka Niiniluoto, Jan Wolenski, will interest graduate students of the philosophy of language and logic, as well as professional philosophers, historians of analytic philosophy, and philosophically inclined logicians. Language, Truth and Knowledge brings together 11 new essays that offer a wealth of insights on a number of Carnap's concerns and ideas. The volume arose out of a symposium on Carnap's work at an international conference held in Vienna in 2001. The essays are written from a variety of perspectives: -some essays aim at rebutting influential criticisms directed at Carnap's views; -others examine and assess his thought in the light of recent developments in the neurosciences; -still others are historical and describe the development of Carnap's thought; -they all shed light on the relation of this thought and different philosophical traditions. These essays form a collection that will prove a valuable resource for our understanding of the historic Carnap and the living philosophical issues with which he grappled Front Matter....Pages i-ix Carnap on Truth....Pages 1-25 Carnap’s Metaphilosophy....Pages 27-44 Synthetic Geometry and Aufbau ....Pages 45-64 Carnaps Übernahme der Gestalttheorie in den Aufbau im Lichte heutiger, vor allem computationaler theorien des sehens....Pages 65-78 Carnap’s Aufbau Rehabilitated....Pages 79-85 Carnap and the Unity of Science: 1921–1928....Pages 87-96 Carnap’s Internal and External Questions: Part I : Quine’s Criticisms....Pages 97-131 Scepticism Under New Colors? Stroud’s Criticism of Carnap....Pages 133-147 Squaring the Vienna Circle with Up-To-Date Logic and epistemology....Pages 149-165 Carnap versus Quine, or Aprioristic versus Naturalized Epistemology, or a Lesson from Dispositions....Pages 167-177 Husserl’s Role in Carnap’s Der Raum ....Pages 179-190 Back Matter....Pages 191-193