Metaphysics and the Good : Themes From the Philosophy of Robert Merrihew Adams

Throughout his philosophical career at Michigan, UCLA, Yale, and Oxford, Robert Merrihew Adams's wide-ranging contributions have deeply shaped the structure of debates in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, history of philosophy, and ethics. Metaphysics and the Good: Themes from the Philosophy of Robert Merrihew Adams provides, for the first time, a collection of original essays by leading philosophers dedicated to exploring many of the facets of Adams's thought, a philosophical outlook that combines Christian theism, neo-Platonism, moral realism, metaphysical idealism, and a commitment to both historical sensitivity and rigorous analytic engagement. Tied together by their aim of exploring, expanding, and experimenting with Adams's views, these eleven essays are coupled with an intellectual autobiography by Adams himself that was commissioned especially for this volume. As the introduction to the volume explains, the purpose of Metaphysics and the Good is to explore Adams's work in the very manner that he prescribes for understanding the ideas of others. By experimenting with Adams's conclusions, "pulling a string here to see what moves over there, so to speak," as Adams puts it, our authors throw into greater relief what makes Adams such an original and stimulating philosopher. In doing so, these essays contribute not only to the exploration of Adams's continuing interests, but they also advance original and important philosophical insights of their own. A Collection Of Original Essays By Leading Philosophers Dedicated To Exploring Many Of The Facets Of Robert M. Adams's Thought, A Philosophical Outlook That Combines Christian Theism, Neo-platonism, Moral Realism, Metaphysical Idealism, And A Commitment To Both Historical Sensitivity And Rigorous Analytic Engagement. Introduction / Samuel Newlands And Larry M. Jorgensen -- A Philosophical Autobiography / Robert Merrihew Adams -- Yet Another Anti-molinist Argument / Dean Zimmerman -- The Contingency Of Existence / Michael Nelson -- Consciousness And Introspective Inaccuracy / Derk Pereboom -- Kant On Apriority And The Spontaneity Of Cognition / Houston Smit -- Moral Necessity In Leibniz's Account Of Human Freedom / R. C. Sleigh, Jr -- Leibniz On Final Causation / Marleen Rozemond -- Does Efficient Causation Presuppose Final Causation? Aquinas Vs. Early Modern Mechanism / Paul Hoffman -- Herder And Kant On History: Their Enlightenment Faith / Allen Wood -- Moral Obligations And Social Commands / Susan Wolf -- Adams On The Nature Of Obligation / Jeffrey Stout -- The Grasshopper, Aristotle, Bob Adams, And Me / Shelly Kagan. Edited By Samuel Newlands And Larry M. Jorgensen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [405]-411) And Index. Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1. A Philosophical Autobiography......Page 27 2. Yet Another Anti-Molinist Argument......Page 44 3. The Contingency of Existence......Page 106 4. Consciousness and Introspective Inaccuracy......Page 167 5. Kant on Apriority and the Spontaneity of Cognition......Page 199 6. Moral Necessity in Leibniz’s Account of Human Freedom......Page 263 7. Leibniz on Final Causation......Page 283 8. Does Efficient Causation Presuppose Final Causation? Aquinas vs. Early Modern Mechanism......Page 306 9. Herder and Kant on History: Their Enlightenment Faith......Page 324 10. Moral Obligations and Social Commands......Page 354 11. Adams on the Nature of Obligation......Page 379 12. The Grasshopper, Aristotle, Bob Adams, and Me......Page 399 Bibliography of Robert Merrihew Adams......Page 416 D......Page 424 K......Page 425 R......Page 426 W......Page 427 Contents 10 Introduction 12 1. A Philosophical Autobiography 27 2. Yet Another Anti-Molinist Argument 44 3. The Contingency of Existence 106 4. Consciousness and Introspective Inaccuracy 167 5. Kant on Apriority and the Spontaneity of Cognition 199 6. Moral Necessity in Leibniz’s Account of Human Freedom 263 7. Leibniz on Final Causation 283 8. Does Efficient Causation Presuppose Final Causation? Aquinas vs. Early Modern Mechanism 306 9. Herder and Kant on History: Their Enlightenment Faith 324 10. Moral Obligations and Social Commands 354 11. Adams on the Nature of Obligation 379 12. The Grasshopper, Aristotle, Bob Adams, and Me 399 Bibliography of Robert Merrihew Adams 416 Index 424 A 424 B 424 C 424 D 424 E 425 F 425 G 425 H 425 I 425 J 425 K 425 L 426 M 426 N 426 O 426 P 426 Q 426 R 426 S 427 T 427 U 427 V 427 W 427 Throughout his philosophical career at Michigan, UCLA, Yale, and Oxford, Robert Merrihew Adams's wide-ranging contributions have deeply shaped the structure of debates in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, history of philosophy, and ethics. __Philosophy of Robert Merrihew Adams____Metaphysics and the Good__