The Proof of the External World : Cartesian Theism and the Possibility of Knowledge

Steven M. Duncan

ISBN 10: 0227172671 / ISBN 13: 9780227172674

Published by James Clarke & Co Ltd Nov 2008, 2008

About this Item

Neuware - 'Descartes' attempt to ground the possibility of human knowledge in the existence of God was judged to be a complete failure by his contemporaries, and this remains the universal opinion of philosophers to this day, despite the fact that three and a half centuries of secular epistemology - which attempts to ground the possibility of knowledge either in the unaided human intellect or in natural processes - has failed to do any better. Further, the leading twentieth-century attempts at theistic epistemology reject both the conception of knowledge and the standards of epistemic evaluation that Descartes takes for granted.'In this book - partly an interpretation of Descartes and partly an attempt to complete his project - the author attempts to show that a theistic epistemology incorporating Platonic and Aristotelian/Thomist elements can revitalize the Cartesian approach to the solution of the central problems of epistemology, including that most elusive of prizes - the proof of the external world.' from the author's preface'Steven Duncan has produceda rigorous and highly original contribution to one of the greatest philosophical problems of all time. Specialists in Descartesand philosophers doing epistemology will ¿nd this book very provocative and original,but The Proof of the External Worldwill also appealto the general reader interested in the history of philosophy.A wonderful contribution!' Paul HerrickProfessor of Philosophy, Shoreline Community College and author of'The Many Worlds of Logic'Steven M. Duncan is the author of 'A Primer of Modern Virtue Ethics' (1995) and 'Being, Truth and Knowledge' (2000). He has taught philosophy in colleges and universities for over thirty years, currently at Bellevue College.

Seller Inventory # 9780227172674

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Proof of the External World : Cartesian Theism and the Possibility of Knowledge
• Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd Nov 2008
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0227172671
• ISBN 13: 9780227172674
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 227W x 156H x 16D millimeters 227 millimeters width by 156 millimeters height by 16 millimeters depth
• Weight: 370 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Descartes' attempt to ground the possibility of human knowledge in the existence of God was judged to be a complete failure by his contemporaries. This remains the universal opinion of philosophers to this day, despite the fact that three and a half centuries of secular epistemology ' which attempts to ground the possibility of knowledge either in the unaided human intellect or in natural processes ' has failed to do any better. Further, the leading twentieth century attempts at theistic epistemology reject both the conception of knowledge and the standards of epistemic evaluation that Descartes takes for granted. In this book - partly an interpretation of Descartes and partly an attempt to complete his project ' the author endeavors to show that a theistic epistemology incorporating Platonic and Aristotelian/Thomist elements can revitalize the Cartesian approach to the solution of the central problems of epistemology, including that most elusive of prizes ' the proof of the external world. This book is essential reading for students of epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. The Perils of Methodological Doubt 2. The Deceiver Hypothesis 3. Skepticism and the Cogito 4. Thinking 5. Being 6. How Can God Be Apprehended? 7. The Cartesian Cosmological Argument 8. The Concept of God 9. God and Knowledge in the Meditations 10. Descartes' Arguments for God's Existence: A Vindication Bibliography

About the Author

Dr Steven M. Duncan earned his PhD at the University of Washington in 1987 and has taught at various colleges and universities for the last thirty years. He is currently working at the Adjunct Philosophy Faculty at Bellevue Community College.