Otto Neurath: Philosophy between Science and Politics (Ideas in Context, Series Number 38)

An international team of four authors, led by distinguished philosopher of science, Nancy Cartwright, and leading scholar of the Vienna Circle, Thomas E. Uebel, have produced this lucid and elegant study of a much-neglected figure. The book, which depicts Neurath's science in the political, economic and intellectual milieu in which it was practised, is divided into three sections: Neurath's biographical background and the socio-political context of his economic ideas; the development of his theory of science; and his legacy as illustrated by his contemporaneous involvement in academic and political debates. Coinciding with the renewal of interest in logical positivism, this is a timely publication which will redress a current imbalance in the history and philosophy of science, as well as making a major contribution to our understanding of the intellectual life of Austro-Germany in the inter-war years. Pt. 1. A Life Between Science And Politics. 1.1. Before Munich. 1.2. The Socialisation Debate. 1.3. In The Bavarian Revolution. 1.4. In Red Vienna. 1.5. Exile In The Hague And Oxford -- Pt. 2. On Neurath's Boat. 2.1. The Boat: Neurath's Image Of Knowledge. 2.2. In The First Vienna Circle. 2.3. From The Duhem Thesis To The Neurath Principle. 2.4. Rationality Without Foundations. 2.5. A Theory Of Scientific Discourse. 2.6. Towards A Theory Of Practice -- Pt. 3. Unity On The Earthly Plane. 3.1. Two Stories With A Common Theme. 3.2. Science: The Stock Of Instruments. 3.3. The Attack On Method. 3.4. Where Ballungen Come From. 3.5. Negotiation, Not Regulation. Nancy Cartwright ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 257-282) And Index. Four distinguished authors have been brought together to produce this elegant study of a much-neglected figure. The book is divided into three sections: Neurath's biographical background and the economic and social context of his ideas; his theory of science; and the development of his role in debates on Marxist concepts of history and his own conception of science. Coinciding with the emerging serious interest in logical positivism, this timely publication will redress a current imbalance in the history and philosophy of science. Four distinguished authors have been brought together to produce this elegant study of a much-neglected figure. Exploring Neurath's biographical background as well as his theory of science, this timely publication is a major contribution to our understanding of analytical philosophy. This is how Ernst Niekisch Otto Neurath in his diary in March 1919.