Thoughts on the Interpretation of Nature

Thoughts on the Interpretation of Nature
Author: Denis Diderot
Publisher: Clinamen Press
Total Pages: 218
Release: 1999
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

This anthology includes an English translation of Pensees sur l'Interpretation de la Nature, a work attacking the state of science in the mid-18th century.

On the Interpretation of Nature

On the Interpretation of Nature
Author: Denis Diderot
Publisher: Newcomb Livraria Press
Total Pages: 60
Release:
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 3989887335

A new translation of Denis Diderot's 1751 On the Interpretation of Nature from the original French manuscript into American English. This edition contains an afterword by the translator on Diderot's philosophic legacy, a timeline of his works and life, and a glossary of philosophic terminology utilized in his works. "Thoughts on the Interpretation of Nature" is a philosophical work by Denis Diderot in which he delves into the nature of scientific inquiry and the methods of interpreting the natural world. Diderot critically examines the prevailing scientific practices of his time and challenges the notion that a single, fixed interpretation of nature is attainable. He argues for a more comprehensive approach to scientific observation, emphasizing the importance of considering the interconnectedness and complexity of natural phenomena and pushing back on some of the Enlightenment's untethered rationalism. Diderot's scientific works had a significant impact on subsequent philosophical and scientific discussions in the French and German intellectual worlds. The work laid the groundwork for a more holistic understanding of the natural world and influenced the development of scientific methodologies. Diderot's ideas resonated with other philosophers and intellectuals of the Enlightenment period, who recognized the importance of embracing a multidimensional perspective in scientific inquiry. Denis Diderot is a critical figure of the Enlightenment who receives little attention from modern day philosophers. Diderot lived in the shadow of Rousseau and Volatire, whom he knew and worked with.

Made with Words

Made with Words
Author: Philip Pettit
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2009-07-26
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0691143250

Argues that it was Hobbes, not later thinkers like Rousseau, who invented the invention of language thesis - the idea that language is a cultural innovation that transformed the human mind.

Thoughts and Observations Concerning the Interpretation of Nature

Thoughts and Observations Concerning the Interpretation of Nature
Author: Francis Bacon
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2005-12
Genre:
ISBN: 9781425316129

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

The Objects of Thought

The Objects of Thought
Author: Tim Crane
Publisher:
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2013-09
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0199682747

Tim Crane addresses the ancient question of how it is possible to think about what does not exist. He argues that the representation of the non-existent is a pervasive feature of our thought about the world, and that to understand thought's representational power ('intentionality') we need to understand the representation of the non-existent.

Plato's Natural Philosophy

Plato's Natural Philosophy
Author: Thomas Kjeller Johansen
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2004-07-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1107320119

Plato's dialogue the Timaeus-Critias presents two connected accounts, that of the story of Atlantis and its defeat by ancient Athens and that of the creation of the cosmos by a divine craftsman. This book offers a unified reading of the dialogue. It tackles a wide range of interpretative and philosophical issues. Topics discussed include the function of the famous Atlantis story, the notion of cosmology as 'myth' and as 'likely', and the role of God in Platonic cosmology. Other areas commented upon are Plato's concepts of 'necessity' and 'teleology', the nature of the 'receptacle', the relationship between the soul and the body, the use of perception in cosmology, and the work's peculiar monologue form. The unifying theme is teleology: Plato's attempt to show the cosmos to be organised for the good. A central lesson which emerges is that the Timaeus is closer to Aristotle's physics than previously thought.

Pensees Sur L'Interpretation de La Nature (Dodo Press)

Pensees Sur L'Interpretation de La Nature (Dodo Press)
Author: Denis Diderot
Publisher:
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2009-04
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9781409977261

Denis Diderot (1713-1784), ne a Langres, est un ecrivain, philosophe et encyclopediste francais. Diderot fut un des grands animateurs intellectuels du XVIIIe siecle par sa curiosite, sa vaste culture, sa connaissance des langues, son esprit critique et sa force de travail. L'annee 1743 marque egalement le debut de la carriere litteraire de Diderot, par le biais de la traduction. Il traduit The Grecian History de Temple Stanyan. En 1745 parait sa traduction, largement augmentee de ses reflexions personnelles, d' An Inquiry Concerning Virtue or Merit de Shaftesbury, sous le titre Essai sur le Merite et la Vertu, premier manifeste du glissement de Diderot de la foi chretienne vers le deisme, bientot confirme par la publication de sa premiere oeuvre originale, les Pensees Philosophiques en 1746. De 1746 a 1748, il collabore avec Marc-Antoine Eidous et Francois-Vincent Toussaint a la traduction du Medicinal Dictionnary de Robert James.

Plato: A Very Short Introduction

Plato: A Very Short Introduction
Author: Julia Annas
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2003-02-13
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 019157922X

This lively and accessible introduction to Plato focuses on the philosophy and argument of his writings, drawing the reader into Plato's way of doing philosophy, and the general themes of his thinking. This is not a book to leave the reader standing in the outer court of introduction and background information, but leads directly into Plato's argument. It looks at Plato as a thinker grappling with philosophical problems in a variety of ways, rather than a philosopher with a fully worked-out system. It includes a brief account of Plato's life and the various interpretations that have been drawn from the sparse remains of information. It stresses the importance of the founding of the Academy and the conception of philosophy as a subject. Julia Annas discusses Plato's style of writing: his use of the dialogue form, his use of what we today call fiction, and his philosophical transformation of myths. She also looks at his discussions of love and philosophy, his attitude to women, and to homosexual love, explores Plato's claim that virtue is sufficient for happiness, and touches on his arguments for the immortality of the soul and his ideas about the nature of the universe. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.