Critical Rationalism, Metaphysics and Science

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

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2. Metaphysics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Universals as Tyrants and as Mediators

      • Paul K. Feyerabend

      Pages 3-14

   3. On Our Difficulties in Finding the Right Words

      • Ben-Ami Scharfstein

      Pages 15-27

   4. The Confrontation

      • Abner Shimony

      Pages 29-32

   5. Epiphenomenalism and Human Freedom

      • John Watkins

      Pages 33-39

   6. Religion, Science, and the Myth of the Framework

      • Hans Albert

      Pages 41-58

   7. You Can’t have Science as Your Religion!

      • Tom Settle

      Pages 59-90

   8. Religion and Rational Philosophy: Coming of Age

      • Nathaniel Laor

      Pages 91-129

3. Logic, Reasoning, and Philosophy of Science

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-131

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   2. Peano, Logicism, and Formalism

      • Michael Segre

      Pages 133-142

   3. How Little Uniformity Need an Inductive Inference Presuppose?

      • David Miller

      Pages 143-148

   4. The Poverty of Rational Choice Theory

      • Mario Bunge

      Pages 149-168

   5. Criticism, Reasoning, and Judgment in Science

      • Maurice A. Finocchiaro

      Pages 169-191

   6. Towards a Popperian Sociology of Science: The Problem of Credit

      • Noretta Koertge

      Pages 193-210

   7. The Mathematics of Philosophy: A Brief Review of My Work

      • I. J. Good

      Pages 211-238

4. Back Matter

   Pages 239-266

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I suppose Joseph Agassi's best and dearest self-description, his cher­ ished wish, is to practice what his 1988 book promises: The Gentle Art of Philosophical Polemics. But for me, and for so many who know him, our Agassi is tough-minded, not tender, not so gentle. True to his beloved critical thinking, he is ever the falsificationist, testing himself of course as much as everyone else. How, he asks himself, can he engage others in their own self-critical exploration? Irritate? Question their logic, their facts, their presuppositions, their rationales? Subvert their reasoning, uncover their motives? Help them to lose their balance, but always help them, make them do it to, and for, themselves. Out of their own mouths, and minds, and imagination. A unique teacher, in classroom and out; not for everyone. Agassi is not quite a tight textual Talmudist disputant, not quite the competitor in the marketplace of ideas offered for persuasive sale, not quite the clever cross-examining lawyer advocate, not quite a philosopher-scientist, not a sceptic more than necessary, not quite embat­ tled in the bloody world but not ever above the battle either . . . but a good deal of all of these, and steeped in intelligence and good will.

• Karl R. Popper
• Philosophy of Science
• Rational Choice
• logic
• metaphysics
• reason
• science

• York University, Toronto, Canada

  I. C. Jarvie

• Tel-Aviv University, Israel

  Nathaniel Laor

• Child Study Center, Yale University, USA

  Nathaniel Laor

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