11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating, original synthesis and reference., March 9, 1999
By A Customer
I am a colleague of the author and have used the book in my own work.
This book will be equally invaluable to those seriously working to understand society and improve it, and repentent postmodernists wishing to be cured of their affliction. The book covers, in a scholarly, systemic, and often humorous and entertaining manner, all the social sciences (including anthropology, demography, linguistics, economics, sociology, political science, culturology and history) and sociotechnologies (including the law, management science, normative economics, and action theory). The following are excerpts from various professional reviews:
From the dust jacket:
"We should welcome the book for its author, subject, and style" (Charles Tilly, Columbia University).
"The book is scholarly yet lively; comprehensive yet unified around a few central powerful ideas; profound yet entertaining reading with one bon mot after another; unorthodox yet constructive" (Joseph Agassi, Tel Aviv and York Universities).
"No one can read [this volume] without learning a great deal, and [it] could be used as backbone of a teaching course, or an intelligent person could use it in an initiation to each of the fields [covered by the book]. Clarity, erudition and range are the merits" (the late Ernest Gellner).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Short Introduction to Mario Bunge and What to Read of His Numerous Books, March 4, 2009
This review is from: Social Science under Debate: A Philosophical Perspective (Paperback)
A Very Short Introduction to Mario Bunge and What to Read of His Numerous Books
by A. Obiedat
ao7v@virginia.edu
Since the late 1950s, Mario Bunge emerged as a leading figure of what I call the "scientific humanist" project. This project aims to radically rethink the barren Kantian solution to combining the fruits of reason with experience; thus Bunge calls his new orientation ratio-empiricism. Scientific humanism is rational on the basis of rigorous consistency and imagination-based theorization and experiential by reliance on testing and the essentiality of matter and social life.
Born in Argentina in 1919, Mario Augusto Bunge was trained as a theoretical physicist. He is the Frothingham Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at McGill University in Montreal, which he joined in 1966 and will retire from in 2009. He earned his PhD degree at the age of thirty-three, in physico-mathematical sciences at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata in 1952. Yet, physics is no more than one chapter out of many in his encyclopaedic scholarly life. For example, when he was a teenager his first intellectual loves were Hegel and psychoanalysis. However, Bunge states that reading Bertrand Russell cured him of his love of psychoanalysis, and studying mathematical logic corrected his erstwhile inclination to Hegel and Marx. This new philosophical orientation, Bunge says, "pushed me into physics, [...] and I continued to read philosophy on the side." This background and his powerful enthusiasm enabled him to craft the monumental nine-part (Treaties on Basic Philosophy), which is the first modern project to systemize the totality of contemporary philosophy since the medieval-Aristotelian system. In addition, his vast background made it possible for him to produce, amongst many other titles, Philosophy of Science, Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Physics, Foundations of Biophilosophy, The Mind-Body-Problem, Finding Philosophy in Social Science, Philosophy of Psychology, Political Philosophy, and his Philosophical Dictionary. These outstanding contributions to knowledge resulted in him receiving sixteen honorary doctorates and four honorary professorships. Thus, it is not an exaggeration to state that no real-world science is alien to Bunge, because he has done serious works in fields ranging from physics to philosophy, linguistics to logic, biology to psychology, and sociology to political science. "The unifying thread of his scholarship is the constant and vigorous advancement of the Enlightenment project contrary to the cultural or academic movements that works to undermine it," (Michael R. Matthews). Such extraordinary philosophical background makes Bunge an exceptional philosopher in every aspect; hence, his philosophy criticizes systematically major current philosophical doctrines, e.g., empiricism, pragmatism, intuitionism, phenomenology, Marxism, hermeneutics, and logical positivism. In fact, Bunge himself admits that his philosophical orientation comes from a system of viewpoints, including materialism, scepticism, realism, scientism, systemism, and humanism. A brief sketch of Bunge's carefully synthesized philosophical doctrine can be seen in his Social Science Under Debate, where he calls for "[1] objective and relevant fact-finding, [2] rigorous theorizing, [3] empirical testing, as well as [4] morally sensitive and [5] socially responsible [philosophy]." The first principle, objective and relevant fact-finding, refers to his lifetime advocacy for a naturalist ontology that strives to explore reality as objectively as possible. This position came as a result of his critique of Berkeley-Hume-Kant subjectivism and phenomenalism, which denies the ability to know reality in itself. In particular, Bunge adopts the Aristotelian view that the "external world exists independently of our sense experience and ideation and that it can be known, if only in part." The second principle, rigorous theorizing, refers to the continuation of the heritage of analytical philosophy as conceptualized in two notions, i.e., linguistic clarity and mathematically precise reasoning. The third principle, empirical testing, builds on the massive accumulation and ramification of natural science and technology, where measured testing along with compatibility with the factual-formal body of knowledge is the criterion for the acceptance of new hypotheses. The fourth principle, moral sensitivity, reflects his argument for the existence of cross-cultural basic values and his universalistic stance on mutual human duties and rights. Finally, socially responsible philosophy reveals his repugnance for conservative and neo-liberal politics. This abbreviated pentagonal presentation of Bunge's philosophical orientation is necessary to understand the general horizon of his scientific humanism. Perhaps it is no oversimplification that Bunge's orientation is a major key to his success and prolificacy. It is a well-rounded and well-balanced strategy benefiting form a great variety of new findings and clear ideas.
The strategic question is where to start and what to read of his more than 50 books? I suggest approaching this ocean of knowledge according to seven choices, i.e., a) systematic, b) introductory, c) social, d) psychological, e) scientific-philosophical, f) metaphysical, and g) comprehensive sampling. The systematic choice concentrates on studying the Treaties, although it is very advanced and specialized reading task, particularly the first four volumes. The introductory group is of course a simpler version of Bunge's thought, although may not satisfy advanced and intellectually hungry readers. For readers of the humanities, the social, psychological, and metaphysical groups of books are extremely engaging, novel, and mind-entraining to read. The scientific-philosophical group is inspirable of any other group because science and scientific method are always present; yet, this list facilitates reaching particulars subjects in philosophy of science. Finally, the last group aims at a general sample of all the past six groups in order to encompass the most advanced investigations of Bunge in the fewest numbers of books. The seven choices are detailed below:
Bunge's (Treaties on Basic Philosophy) stands as his major achievement. It encompasses a quadrivium which he considers "the nucleus of contemporary philosophy", namely, semantics (theories of meaning and truth), ontology (general theories of the world), epistemology (theories of knowledge), and ethics (theories of value and right action). For approximately two decades, Bunge engaged in writing his magnum opus in order to investigate and synthesize contemporary philosophy in a single grand system that is compatible with the advancement of modern human knowledge both scientifically and philosophically.
A - Treatise on Basic Philosophy, 8 volumes in 9 parts:
Semantics
I: Sense and Reference. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1974.
II: Interpretation and Truth. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1974.
Ontology
III: The Furniture of the World. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1977.
IV: A World of Systems. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1979.
Epistemology and Methodology
V: Epistemology and Methodology I: Exploring the World. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1983.
VI: Epistemology and Methodology II: Understanding the World. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1983.
VII: Epistemology and Methodology III: philosophy of science and technology:
Part I. Formal and Physical Sciences. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1985.
Part II. Life Science, Social Science and Technology. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1985.
Axiology and Ethics
VIII: Ethics: the Good and the Right. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1989.
All of these 8 volumes in 9 parts are currently in print, available under the Springer-Verlag imprint. However, some readers might be discouraged to read such a mammoth work. Therefore, the following books serve as simple and very introductory to his thought, particularly the second. The third is advanced but in a selected essays format.
B - Introductory General Books
- Scientific Materialism. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1981.
- Philosophy in Crisis: The Need for Reconstruction. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2001.
- Scientific Realism: Selected Essays of Mario Bunge. Ed. Martin Mahner. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2001.
For readers who demand more specialized works, Bunge's writings on the social sciences and psychology (which came after the Treatise on Basic Philosophy) are of the highest relevance to students of the humanities.
C- Social Science - Politics
- Finding Philosophy in Social Science. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press, 1996.
- Social Science under Debate: A Philosophical Perspective. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998.
- The Sociology -Philosophy Connection. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1999.
- Vol. VIII: Ethics: the Good and the Right. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1989.
- Political Philosophy: Fact, Value, and Vision, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2008.
D- Scientific Psychology
- The Mind-Body Problem: A Psychobiological Approach. Oxford and New York: Pergamon, 1980.
- Philosophy of Psychology. with Ruben Ardila. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 1987.
Of course Bunge is in a distinguished position among current thinkers in the domain of philosophy of science as seen in the following, particularly, the first two-volume work.
E- Philosophy of Science
- Scientific Research I: The Search for System. (Heidelberg- New York: Springer-Verlag, 1967, 1973). Rev. ed. Philosophy of Science: From Problem to Theory. Vol. 1 New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1998.
- Scientific Research II: The Search for Truth. (Heidelberg- New York:...
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty and insightful, December 7, 2008
This review is from: Social Science under Debate: A Philosophical Perspective (Paperback)
Bunge is a system builder in the field of philosophy of science, which allows him to present a unified view of social science. This benefits the reader, as Bunge not only points out problems, he also suggests remedies.
The book fits well readers that have had an interest in natural sciences and philosophy, but are weak on social sciences. This book gives a good initiation in the field.
The book is witty and insightful.
Some sample quotes below.
The first part of the book is on Basic Social Science.
Chapter 1, From Natural Science to Science
Bunge sketches society as system with four subsystems. One natural (Biologocial) and three artificial (Economy, Polity and Culture).
Chapter 2, Sociology
Chapter 3, Positive Economics
"Economics theory is still a semiscience."
Bunge gives advice for progress. Such as
1. Brush up your philosophy
2. Study the economy more
3. Remain ideologically neutral
4. Focus on systems rather than on individuals or wholes
5. Do not isolate the economy; treat is as a subsystem of society coupled with the natural environment, the polity, and the culture.
Chapter 4, Political Science
Good introduction. More in "Political Philosophy", Bunge 2008.
Chapter 5, Culturology
Chapter 6, History
The second part of the book is on Sociotechnology: the design of policies and plans for the maintenance, repair, or construction of social systems, private or public, on the basis of social science.
Chapter 7, Action theory
On Marxism and Pragmatism: "they both minimize the role of theory."
"It is impossible to build a pragmatist theory of action, rational or not."
"All rational-choice models of action are bound to fail in their attempt to describe real action, and are consequently useless as policy tools."
Chapter 8, Law
"Outlaw what threatens and harms, not what offends; leave offense to rational debate"
"Given that humans are largely artefactual, and that societies are changeable, the expression `natural law' and `natural right' are oxymorons."
Chapter 9, Management Technology
"Social justice does not consist in eliminating gains but in distributing them fairly."
Chapter 10, Normative Economics
On Macroeconomics: "Given any policy P, firmly endorsed by a Nobel laureate in economics, there is at least another Nobel laureate who, with equal authority and conviction, will dismiss P as quackery."
"The major consequence for normative macroeconomics and sociotechnology in general is that individualist welfare economics is kaput."
"The conservative (or neoliberal or libertarian) thesis, that a healthy market calls for a non-interventionist state, is false. In fact the state is needed to guarantee minimally fair economic play, and even to protect the market from itself, particularly when in severe disequilibrium."
Bunge argues for a third way, Integral Technodemocracy, to combine the positive features of capitalism with those of socialism.
Chapter 11, Designing the future
"All the traditional ideologies are bankrupt."
"The focus of the discussion over sustainable development should be shifted from environmental protection to resource management and from this or that particular endangered species to saving entire ecosystems."
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