Reflections on Naturalism

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Alberto Cordero, José Ignacio Galparsoro

   Pages 1-14

3. Metaphilosophy, Folk-Philosophy and Naturalized Philosophy

   • José Ignacio Galparsoro

   Pages 15-31

4. Naturalism and the Mind

   • Pablo Quintanilla

   Pages 33-42

5. Measuring Morality

   • Jesse Prinz

   Pages 43-59

6. Naturalism and Scientific Realism*

   • Alberto Cordero

   Pages 61-84

7. Handling Humility

   • Steven French

   Pages 85-104

8. The Scientific Undercurrents of Philosophical Naturalism

   • Sergio F. Martínez

   Pages 105-127

9. Advantages and Risks of Naturalization

   • Nicanor Ursua

   Pages 129-149

10. Naturalism and the Naturalization of Philosophy

    • Julián Pacho

    Pages 151-168

To naturalists, there is no such thing as complete justification for any claim, and so requiring complete warrant for naturalist proposals is an unreasonable request. The proper guideline for naturalist proposals seems thus clear: develop it using the methods of science; if this leads to a fruitful stance, then explicate and reassess. The resulting offer will exhibit virtuous circularity if its explanatory feedback loop involves critical reassessment as the explanations it encompasses play out. So viewed, naturalism is a philosophical perspective that seeks to unite in a virtuous circle the natural sciences and non-foundationalist, broadly-based empiricism. Other common lines of antinaturalist complaint are that naturalization efforts seem fruitful only in some areas, also that several endeavors outside the sciences serve as sources of knowledge into human life and the human condition, especially in areas where science does not reach terribly far as yet. It seems hard not to grant some truth to many allegories from literature, art and some religions. Naturalism has room for knowledge gathered outside science, provided the imported claims satisfy also by naturalistic methods. Naturalism and the debate about its scope and limits thrive on discrepancy. We hope that, collectively, the selected essays that follow will give a fair view of the vitality and tribulations of naturalism as a variegated contemporary philosophical perspective.

• Epistemology
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy
• Scientific Realism.
• Naturalism

• University of the Basque Country, Spain

  José Ignacio Galparsoro

• City University of New York, USA

  Alberto Cordero

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