A System of Pragmatic Idealism, Volume II: The Validity of Values, a Normative Theory of Evaluative Rationality

280 Pages·1993·7.831 MB·English

by  Nicholas Rescher

A SYSTEM OF PRAGMATIC IDEALISM

A SYSTEM OF
PRAGMATIC IDEALISM
VOLUME II
THE VALIDITY OF VALUES
A Normative Theory of Evaluative Rationality
Nichohs Rescher
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEWJERSEY
Copyright © 1993 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street,
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, Oxford
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-PubUcation Data
(Revised for volume 2)
Rescher, Nicholas.
A system of pragmatic idealism
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-691-07391-0 (v. 1)
ISBN 0-691-07393-7 (v. 2)
Contents: v. 1. Human knowledge in idealistic perspective —
v. 2. The validity of values.
1. Idealism. 2. Pragmatism. I. Title.
B823.R44 1991
141 91-15122
This book has been composed in Linotron Caledonia
Several sections of this book have appeared elsewhere in slightly
different form. Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to
reprint from the following works by Nicholas Rescher: Chapter 6
of Ethical Idealism: An Inquiry into the Nature and Function of
Ideas (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press,
1987), copyright © 1987 The Regents of the University of California;
"How Wide Is the Gap between Facts and Values?" PhUosophy
and Phenomenological Research 50 (Fall 1990): 297-319
(Supplement); chapter 2 of Human Interests (Stanford, Calif.:
Stanford University Press, 1990), © 1990 by the Board of Trustees
of the Leland Stanford Junior University; and chapter 3 of Moral
Absolutes (New York: Peter Lang Publishing Co., 1989).
Princeton University Press books are printed
on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines
for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council on Library Resources
Printed in the United States of America
1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To the Memory of My Parents

Contents
List of Displays ix
Preface xi
Introduction xiii
PART I: VALUES AND REASONS
One
The Reach of Reasqn 3
Two
Maximization, Optimization, and Rationality 26
Three
The Rationality of Values and Evaluations 45
PART II: SCIENCE AND HUMAN VALUES
Four
How Wide Is the Gap between Facts and Values? 65
Five
Values in the Face of Natural Science 93
PART III: VALUES AND HUMAN NATURE
Six
What Is a Person? 113
Seven
The Power of Ideals 129
Eight
The Meaning of Life 140
PART IV: VALUES AND MORALITY
Nine
Optimism and Pessimism 155
Ten
Moral Objectivity (Are There Moral Facts?) 173
viii CONTENTS
Eleven
Moral Values as Immune to Relativism 187
Twelve
Moral Rationality: Why Be Moral? 206
PART V: VALUES AND RATIONALITY
Thirteen
Rationality and Happiness 233
Fourteen
Values, Pragmatism, and Idealism 246
Bibliography 255
Name Index 261
Subject Index 263