Robert Nozick - Rilegato

Lacey, A. R.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0691090440 ISBN 13: 9780691090443

Casa editrice: Princeton Univ Pr, 2001

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Although best known for the hugely influential Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974), Robert Nozick has eschewed the label ''political philosopher,'' as the vast majority of his writings have focused on other areas. Indeed, the breadth of Nozick's work is perhaps greater than that of any other contemporary philosopher. A. R. Lacey presents the first book to give full and proper discussion of Nozick's philosophy as a whole and of critical reactions to it, spanning areas as diverse as ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of religion.

The book begins by examining Anarchy, State, and Utopia and moves on to Nozick's noted work on the theory of knowledge and his notion of ''tracking the truth.'' Lacey explores the philosopher's metaphysical writings, including his ''closest continuer theory'' of personal identity, and his reflections on free will and the existence of God. He addresses the moral basis of Nozick's political philosophy in depth. Later chapters discuss his ideas of ''symbolic utility,'' his evolutionary account of rationality, and his varying treatments of Newcomb's Paradox. The book concludes with more general topics, including Nozick's thoughts on the meaning of life and what those who search for it are really looking for. Given Nozick's reluctance to respond to his critics, the book's discussion of the secondary literature on his work is invaluable. Throughout, Lacey finds themes that unite Nozick's diverse writings, noting, for example, his hostility to coercion of all kinds. Illuminating, informative, and clearly written, the book will be welcomed as an authoritative guide to Nozick's philosophical thinking.

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Recensione

"[A] commendably concise overview of Nozick's philosophical writings. . . . [It] represents an attempt to summarize the main arguments advanced by Nozick throughout his philosophical career, while also discussing the major criticisms those arguments have received. Given the breadth of Nozick'' academic interests, this represents a formidable undertaking; Lacey, however, rises admirably to the task, moving smoothly and knowledgeably between topics as diverse a the moral basis of the state, the metaphysics of personal identity, and spiritual approaches to the meaning of life. This is a well-written book."--Jonathan Crowe, Policy

Contenuti

Preface Vii
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Introduction: analytic philosophy, 1
Changes of interest, 5
Nozick's change of approach: proof and explanation, 6
Coercion, 8
Explanation and understanding, 12
Truth and the aim of philosophy, 14
The unity of Nozick's philosophy, 17
Summary, 19
Chapter 2: Anarchy, State, and Utopia: the moral basis 20
Introduction, 20
The role of the individual, 23
The basis of rights, 25
Animals and angels, 28
Welfarist criticisms of Nozick, 30
Libertarian criticisms of Nozick, 32
The nature of rights, 34
The theory of justice 1: justice in transfer, 37
Blurring the distinction, 40
The theory of justice 11: justice in acquisition and Locke's proviso, 42
The theory of justice 111: rectification and compensation, 44
Nozick on Rawls, 48
Summary, 50
Chapter 3: Anarchy, State, and Utopia: the political outcome 52
Introduction, 52
Explaining and justifying: the program, 54
The execution 1: the state of nature, 57
The execution 11: growth of the state, 59
Practical objections, 60
Objections of principle 1: transitivity and compensation, 62
Objections of principle 11: procedural rights and incomplete knowledge, 65
Utopia l: the framework, 66
Utopia II: objections, 68
Summary, 71
Chapter 4: The later ethics and politics 73
Introduction, 73
Ethics and motivation, 74
Value as organic unity, 78
Value and disvalue, 81
Organic unity as value, 82
Some criticisms, 83
The basis of value, 85
The ethical pull, 88
Deontology and teleology: rights, 89
The islought question, 92
Political implications: symbolic utility, 95
Summary, 98
Chapter 5: Epistemology 100 Introduction: internalism and externalism, 100
Outline of Nozick's theory, 102
Counterfactuals, 104
Scepticism and closure, 108
The price that Nozick pays, 111
Some criticisms of Nozich, 114
Internalism and externalism again, 122
Evidence, 125
Summary, 130 Chapter 6: Rationality 133 Introduction: rationality in general, 133
Principles and their uses, 135
Practical rationality in the dissertation, 140
Decision theory 1: the first two discussions, 142
Decision theory 11: the third discussion, 146
Decision theory 111: symbolic utility again, 149
Belief and acceptance, 151
Evolution and its role, 153
Types and limits of rationality, 156
Summary, 158 Chapter 7: Metaphysics I: personal identity 160 Introduction: identity in general, 160
Nozick's theory, 161
Personal identity 1: general considerations, 163
Personal identity 11: ties and caring, 166
Personal identity 111: closeness, 168
Interlude: the unity of Nozieh's philosophy, 170
Personal identity IV: the nature of the self, 172
Summary, 175
Chapter 8: Metaphysics II: explaining existence 177
Introduction: "Why is there something rather than nothing?"; 177
Nozick's approach, 178
Fecundity, 181
Self-subsumption, 182
Limited fecundity, 183
Wedin's criticisms, 185
Summary, 186 Chapter 9: Metaphysics III: free will and retribution 188 Introduction, 188
The indeterministic approach, 189
Tracking again, 191
Retribution, 193
Summary, 197 Chapter 10: The meaning of life 199 Introduction: conditions for meaningfulness, 199
Ein Sof and its problems, 201
Self-subsumption again, 203
The dialectic of meaning and value, 205
Conclusion: philosophy and the arts and sciences, 206
Summary, 208
Guide to further reading 209
Bibliography 221
Index 235