Description

Book Synopsis

This book argues that positivism, though now the dominant paradigm for both the natural and the human sciences, is intrinsically unfit for the latter. In particular, it is unfit for linguistics and cognitive science, where it is ultimately self-destructive, since it fails to account for causality, while the mind, the primary object of research of the human sciences, cannot be understood unless considered to be an autonomous causal force.

Author Pieter Albertus Maria Seuren, who died shortly after this manuscript was finished and after a remarkable career, reviews the history of this issue since the seventeenth century. He focuses on Descartes, Leibniz, British Empiricism and Kant, arguing that neither cognition nor language can be adequately accounted for unless the mind is given its full due. This implies that a distinction must be madeâfollowing Alexius Meinong, but against Russell and Quineâbetween actual and virtual reality. The latter is a product of the causally active

A Refutation of Positivism in Philosophy of Mind

    Product form

    A Paperback by Pieter A.M. Seuren

    £37.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £39.99 – you save £2.00 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 26 Aug 2026.

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of A Refutation of Positivism in Philosophy of Mind by Pieter A.M. Seuren

      Book details

      Publisher Taylor & Francis
      Published 10 August 2024
      ISBN-13 9781032493770
      978-1032493770
      ISBN-10 1032493771
      Also in:
      Psychological theory

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      This book argues that positivism, though now the dominant paradigm for both the natural and the human sciences, is intrinsically unfit for the latter. In particular, it is unfit for linguistics and cognitive science, where it is ultimately self-destructive, since it fails to account for causality, while the mind, the primary object of research of the human sciences, cannot be understood unless considered to be an autonomous causal force.

      Author Pieter Albertus Maria Seuren, who died shortly after this manuscript was finished and after a remarkable career, reviews the history of this issue since the seventeenth century. He focuses on Descartes, Leibniz, British Empiricism and Kant, arguing that neither cognition nor language can be adequately accounted for unless the mind is given its full due. This implies that a distinction must be madeâfollowing Alexius Meinong, but against Russell and Quineâbetween actual and virtual reality. The latter is a product of the causally active

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account