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The Principle of Sufficient Reason : A Reassessment
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Description
The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) says that all contingent facts must have explanation. In this 2006 volume, which was the first on the topic in the English language in nearly half a century, Alexander Pruss examines the substantive philosophical issues raised by the Principle Reason. Discussing various forms of the PSR and selected historical episodes, from Parmenides, Leibnez, and Hume, Pruss defends the claim that every true contingent proposition must have an explanation against major objections, including Hume's imaginability argument and Peter van Inwagen's argument that the PSR entails modal fatalism. Pruss also provides a number of positive arguments for the PSR, based on considerations as different as the metaphysics of existence, counterfactuals and modality, negative explanations, and the everyday applicability of the PSR. Moreover, Pruss shows how the PSR would advance the discussion in a number of disparate fields, including meta-ethics and the philosophy of mathematics.
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Product details
- Hardback | 350 pages
- 160 x 235 x 26mm | 610g
- 27 Apr 2006
- Cambridge University Press
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- English
- 052185959X
- 9780521859592
Table of contents
1 Introduction; 2. Reflection on some historical episodes; 3. The CP and the PSR; objections to the PSR; 4. A modern version of the Hume objection; 5. The anti-theological argument: 'There are no necessary beings'; 6. Modal fatalism; 7. Free will; 8. Quantum mechanics; 9. Turning Leibniz against the PSR; 10. What survives the criticisms of the PSR?; justification of the PSR; 11. Self-evidence; 12. Three Thomistic arguments; 13. Modal arguments; 14. Is the universe reasonable?; 15. Explanation of negative states of affairs; 16. The puzzle of the everyday applicability of the PSR; 17. Inference to the best or only explanation; 18. Inductive scepticism; 19. The nature of possibility; 20. Conclusions.
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Review quote
The scope of the book is truly encyclopaedic...Pruss's book is an excellent summary of arguments for and against Principle of Sufficient Reason, and will provide much food for thought for philosophers of many different persuasions.
- Kevin Davey, University of Chicago, Religious Studies "This is a masterly treatment of the Principle of Sufficient Reason in a multitude of its philosophical guises and contexts...the book is an excellent achievement, and I can think of no sufficient reason why it should not grace the shelves of any philosopher." --Dean Rickles, University of Calgary: Philosophy in Review
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- Kevin Davey, University of Chicago, Religious Studies "This is a masterly treatment of the Principle of Sufficient Reason in a multitude of its philosophical guises and contexts...the book is an excellent achievement, and I can think of no sufficient reason why it should not grace the shelves of any philosopher." --Dean Rickles, University of Calgary: Philosophy in Review
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About Alexander R. Pruss
Alexander Pruss is assistant professor of philosophy at Georgetown University. He has published many papers on philosophy and mathematics, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, applied ethics, probability theory and geometric symmetrization theory. With Richard Gale he is co-editor of The Existence of God.
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