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