Customer Reviews

Philosophical Reasoning: A Study in the Methodology of Philosophizing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a book on the philosophy of philosophy. Rescher is one of the best writers of philosophy today. He explains why philosophy never comes to a final solution on issues, but is always making progress. Although answers raise more questions, Rescher demonstrates that this is actually a good thing because new issues keep philosophical study and research alive and interesting.

Chapter 7 "Philosophical Aporetics" and Chapter 9 "The Impact of Distinctions" should be read by every student of philosophy. Rescher demonstrates that arguments with plausible premises which conflict with each other are often capable of resolution through thoughtful reasoning. Most important among the tools for argument resolution is the drawing of distinctions. Rescher gives detailed examples of such reasoning in the history of philosophy (going back to Plato and the Presocratics) and in current issues.