Holism in philosophy of mind and philosophy of physics

Springer Science & Business Media

2001

xiv, 366 p.

Synthese Library ; 298

Includes bibliographical references (p. [321]-351) and indexes.

978-0792370031

What is Holism? Proposal for a General Conception -- Requirements for a General Conception of Holism -- Proposal for a General Conception of Holism -- Step 1: Generic Ontological Dependence -- Step 2: Properties that make Something a Constituent Part -- Result: Proposal for a General Conception of Holism -- Is the Proposed Conception Substantial? -- Two Types of Holism -- Arguments for Holism About Beliefs -- The Argument from Confirmation -- The Duhem--Quine Thesis -- From Confirmation Holism to Semantic Holism -- Is Quine's Argument for Holism Convincing? -- The Argument from Interpretation -- The Argument from Inferential Role -- Tasks for an Inferential Role Semantics -- Inferential Role and Shared Beliefs -- Inferential Role as Social Role -- Meaning through Use in a Community -- Inferential Role in a Public Language -- Inferential Semantics based on Normative Pragmatics -- From Social Holism to Holism About Beliefs -- The Problem of Rule-Following -- What is the Problem of Rule-Following? -- Rule-Following as Motivation for Social Holism -- Social Holism -- Meaning through Social Practices: The Argument for Social Holism -- Objections to the Argument for Social Holism -- Social Practices in terms of I--Thou Relations -- An Argument for Social Holism and Holism about Beliefs -- Holism as Revision of the Cartesian Tradition -- What is the Cartesian Tradition in Philosophy of Mind? -- Direct Realism versus Representational Realism -- Holism and Externalism -- Social Externalism -- Externalism about Singular Beliefs.

A comparison between holism in the philosophy of mind and language and social holism, on the one hand, with holism about space-time and quantum physics on the other. The main claim is that holism in the humanities and holism in fundamental physics fall under the same substantial, general conception of holism. Arguments to the effect that the holism of the mental is unscientific, or that the mental is separated from the physical owing to holism are thus found to be unsound. The holism of the mental fits into a world-view based on scientific realism." "All those who care about our view of the world and ourselves can read this book, with its spirited and argumentative examination of different positions. No familiarity with physics is presupposed

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