Free Will and Continental Philosophy: The Death without Meaning

by David Edward Rose

Overview

Free Will and Continental Philosophy explores the concepts of free-will and self-determination in the Continental philosophical tradition. David Rose examines the ways in which Continental philosophy offers a viable alternative to the hegemonic scientistic approach taken by analytic philosophy. Rose claims that the problem of free-will is only a problem if one makes an unnecessary assumption consistent with scientific rationalism. In the sphere of human action we assume that, since action is a physical event, it must be reducible to the laws and concepts of science. Hence, the problematic nature of free will raises its head, since the concept of free will is intrinsically contradictory to such a reductionist outlook. This book suggests that the Continental thinkers offer a compelling alternative by concentrating on the phenomena of human action and self-determination in order to offer the truth of freedom in different terms. Thus Rose offers a revealing investigation into the appropriate concepts and categories of human freedom and action.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441196552
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/22/2011
Series:	Continuum Studies in Continental Philosophy , #75
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David Rose is Lecturer in Philosophical Studies at Newcastle University, UK.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Science, Explanation and Dogma 3. Freud and Sartre: the Property of Freedom 4. Hegel: Action and Avoiding the Death without Meaning 5. Marx and Marcuse: Alienation and Critical Reflection 6. Rawls and Vattimo: Pluralism and Postmodern Liberation
7. Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index