Background
Rescher, Nicholas was born on July 15, 1928 in Hagen, Westphalia, Germany. Arrived in United States, 1938, naturalized, 1944. Son of Erwin Hans and Meta Anna Rescher.
(This book is a study in the methodology of philosophical ...)
This book is a study in the methodology of philosophical inquiry. It expounds and defends the thesis that systematization is the proper instrument of philosophical inquiry and that the effective pursuit of philosophy's mission calls for constructing a doctrinal system that answers our questions in a coherent and comprehensive manner.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0631230181/?tag=2022091-20
(When this book was originally published in 2006, Episteme...)
When this book was originally published in 2006, Epistemetrics was not as yet a scholarly discipline. With regard to scientific information there was the discipline of scientometrics, represented by a journal of that very name. Science, however, had a monopoly on knowledge. Although it is one of our most important cognitive resources, it is not our only one. While scientometrics is a centerpiece of epistemetrics, it is not the whole of it. Nicholas Rescher's endeavor to quantify knowledge is not only of interest in itself, but is also instructive in bringing into sharper relief the nature of and the explanatory rationale for the limits that unavoidably confront our efforts to advance the frontiers of knowledge. In particular, his book demonstrates the limitations of human knowledge and will be of great value to scholars working in this area.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521861209/?tag=2022091-20
(Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses ...)
Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses its fundamental principles, methodology, and practice and gives an overview of its promises and problems. The future obviously matters to us. It is, after all, where we'll be spending the rest of our lives. We need some degree of foresight if we are to make effective plans for managing our affairs. Much that we would like to know in advance cannot be predicted. But a vast amount of successful prediction is nonetheless possible, especially in the context of applied sciences such as medicine, meteorology, and engineering. This book examines our prospects for finding out about the future in advance. It addresses questions such as why prediction is possible in some areas and not others; what sorts of methods and resources make successful prediction possible; and what obstacles limit the predictive venture. Nicholas Rescher develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses its fundamental principles, methodology, and practice and gives an overview of its promises and problems. Predicting the Future considers the anthropological and historical background of the predictive enterprise. It also examines the conceptual, epistemic, and ontological principles that set the stage for predictive efforts. In short, Rescher explores the basic features of the predictive situation and considers their broader implications in science, in philosophy, and in the management of our daily affairs. "A bold overview of the nature of forecasting. The topic is significant for a number of fields, from philosophy of science (prediction as confirmation) to game theory, indeed to any area where theoretical or practical prediction is required."--Robert E. Butts, University of Western Ontario "Comprehensive, carefully crafted, scholarly when necessary, and very readable. This is an important book [that] bears strikingly on a wide range of topics."--Robert Almeder, Georgia State University "By sorting through a number of common-sense assumptions and exploring their limitations and strengths, Rescher gives real merit to an intellectual case for a theory of prediction." --Joseph C. Pitt, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0791435547/?tag=2022091-20
(Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses ...)
Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses its fundamental principles, methodology, and practice and gives an overview of its promises and problems. The future obviously matters to us. It is, after all, where we'll be spending the rest of our lives. We need some degree of foresight if we are to make effective plans for managing our affairs. Much that we would like to know in advance cannot be predicted. But a vast amount of successful prediction is nonetheless possible, especially in the context of applied sciences such as medicine, meteorology, and engineering. This book examines our prospects for finding out about the future in advance. It addresses questions such as why prediction is possible in some areas and not others; what sorts of methods and resources make successful prediction possible; and what obstacles limit the predictive venture. Nicholas Rescher develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses its fundamental principles, methodology, and practice and gives an overview of its promises and problems. Predicting the Future considers the anthropological and historical background of the predictive enterprise. It also examines the conceptual, epistemic, and ontological principles that set the stage for predictive efforts. In short, Rescher explores the basic features of the predictive situation and considers their broader implications in science, in philosophy, and in the management of our daily affairs. "A bold overview of the nature of forecasting. The topic is significant for a number of fields, from philosophy of science (prediction as confirmation) to game theory, indeed to any area where theoretical or practical prediction is required."--Robert E. Butts, University of Western Ontario "Comprehensive, carefully crafted, scholarly when necessary, and very readable. This is an important book [that] bears strikingly on a wide range of topics."--Robert Almeder, Georgia State University "By sorting through a number of common-sense assumptions and exploring their limitations and strengths, Rescher gives real merit to an intellectual case for a theory of prediction." --Joseph C. Pitt, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0791435547/?tag=2022091-20
(This book examines the future prospects for research in t...)
This book examines the future prospects for research in the natural sciences. Are the days of scientific discovery numbered? Is there good reason to think that natural science is approaching the completion of its work? Professor Rescher's thesis is that the latter-day prophets of doom are wrong, and that we actually confront not the termination of scientific progress but merely its slowing down. The author argues that if an exponentially increasing effort is required to maintain a relatively stable pace of scientific progress (as it has over the past century or so), then science is bound to enter a period of deceleration. It is argued that despite these somewhat harsh realities, the prospects of scientific progress remain literally limitless in principle. However, the facts indicate that the cost of scientific inquiry rises faster than the significant returns that it can yield, and hence a deceleration in scientific innovation will come about not only because of the ending of the frintier, but because of the increased difficulties of pushing it further out. The book concludes by providing an explanation of the reasons for the cost-escalation of scientific work.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0822911280/?tag=2022091-20
(Provides an appreciation of the actual powers and limitat...)
Provides an appreciation of the actual powers and limitations of science, not only to philosophers of science but also to a larger, less specialized audience.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520051807/?tag=2022091-20
( This second edition of Free Will presents a complete tr...)
This second edition of Free Will presents a complete treatment of the history of the debate over whether humans have free will. It analyzes the conditions under which actions must be characterized as unfree, and explores whether recent findings in brain physiology counter-indicate free will. Nicholas Rescher leads the reader through a conceptual web of distinctions that, taken together, provide a satisfying contribution to philosophical thought on free will. To determine if humans have free will, Rescher first examines exactly what free will is and how it should function. He examines the role of nature, nurture, and free choice, and he concludes that it is possible to validate the compatibility between freedom of the will and a certain special mode of determinism. Rescher sharpens his highly conceptual assessment by making distinctions between productive (or metaphysical) and moral (or motivational) freedom. He also distinguishes between free decision and free action, and motivational and causal determination of choices. In addition, he considers the distinction between durational events and the instantaneous outcomes that mark their commencements and completions, as well as between pre-determination and determination based on precedence. New in paperback and completely revised, this edition of Free Will represents a leading contemporary philosopher in top form.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412855934/?tag=2022091-20
(In 1970 the author, then-Fcc commissioner Nicholas Johnso...)
In 1970 the author, then-Fcc commissioner Nicholas Johnson, offered his effort at predicting communications in the year 2000. In 2011, now-Professor Johnson asked his law school students to take their own 30-year look forward. This book lets you Monday-morning-quarterback his 1970 predictions, and compare his students efforts at "Predicting Our Future Cybelife" in 2040 with your own digital hopes and fears.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1105626105/?tag=2022091-20
( This second edition of Free Will presents a complete tr...)
This second edition of Free Will presents a complete treatment of the history of the debate over whether humans have free will. It analyzes the conditions under which actions must be characterized as unfree, and explores whether recent findings in brain physiology counter-indicate free will. Nicholas Rescher leads the reader through a conceptual web of distinctions that, taken together, provide a satisfying contribution to philosophical thought on free will. To determine if humans have free will, Rescher first examines exactly what free will is and how it should function. He examines the role of nature, nurture, and free choice, and he concludes that it is possible to validate the compatibility between freedom of the will and a certain special mode of determinism. Rescher sharpens his highly conceptual assessment by making distinctions between productive (or metaphysical) and moral (or motivational) freedom. He also distinguishes between free decision and free action, and motivational and causal determination of choices. In addition, he considers the distinction between durational events and the instantaneous outcomes that mark their commencements and completions, as well as between pre-determination and determination based on precedence. New in paperback and completely revised, this edition of Free Will represents a leading contemporary philosopher in top form.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412855934/?tag=2022091-20
educator philosopher author Polymath
Rescher, Nicholas was born on July 15, 1928 in Hagen, Westphalia, Germany. Arrived in United States, 1938, naturalized, 1944. Son of Erwin Hans and Meta Anna Rescher.
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Queens College, 1949. Doctor of Philosophy, Princeton University, 1951. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Loyola University, Chicago, 1970.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Lehigh University, 1993. Doctor honoris causa (honorary), University Córdoba, Argentina, 1992. Doctor honoris causa (honorary), University Constance, Germany, 1995.
Doctor of Science (honorary), City University of New York, 1999. Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), Fern University, Hagen, 2001. Dr.rer.pol.hc, Helsinki, 2006.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Cleveland State University, 2007.
Instructor philosophy Princeton (New Jersey) University, 1951-1952. Mathematician Research and Development Corporation, 1954-1956. Associate professor philosophy Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1957-1961.
Distinguished professor philosophy University Pittsburgh, since 1961, chairman Center for Philosophy of Science, since 1988. Trustee St. Edmunds Academy, Pittsburgh, 1980—1985. Nonresident member Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Distinguished visiting lecturer, Oxford, Salamanca, Munich, Konstanz. Consultant in field; With United States Marine Corps, 1952-1954.
(Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses ...)
(Develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses ...)
(Provides an appreciation of the actual powers and limitat...)
( This second edition of Free Will presents a complete tr...)
( This second edition of Free Will presents a complete tr...)
(In 1970 the author, then-Fcc commissioner Nicholas Johnso...)
(When this book was originally published in 2006, Episteme...)
(This book examines the future prospects for research in t...)
(This book is a study in the methodology of philosophical ...)
Author: The Coherence Theory of Truth, 1973, Methodological Pragmatism, 1977, Scientific Progress, 1978, The Limits of Science, 1985, Luck, 1995, Predicting the Future, 1997, Complexity, 1998, Nature and Understanding, 2000, Paradoxes, 2000, Philosophical Reasoning, 2001, Fairness, 2002, Epistomic Logic, 2004, Epistemetrics, 2006, Free Will, 2009. Executive editor: American Philosophical Quarterly, since 1961. Member editorial board 15 journals.Contributor articles to professional journals.
In his recent trilogy, A System of Pragmatic Idealism (1992-1993). Rescher aims to combine ideas expounded in more than 50 books and 211 articles that preceded it. The result, a system of pragmatic idealism, endorses traditional idealism's emphasis on the contributions made by our subjectivity to our conception of reality, but does not lose sight of the objective constraints imposed on proper cognitive construction by our given needs and by interests that derive from our circumstances.
The pragmatism defended is, moreover, an objective pragmatism of what works impersonally, rather than a subjective pragmatism of what worksforme or for us. It is applied not only to our factual commitments but also to our value commitments. With regard to values, again, a good measure of objectivity derives from our emplacement in reality, which imposes upon us certain basic projects not constructed or freely chosen, but given.
About these we cannot properly deliberate.
The third volume of the trilogy opposes the rampant nihilism of a ‘post-philosophical’ age. Pluralism is regarded as compatible with a philosophical search for truth. Philosophical views are of course bound to reflect differences in backgrounds of experience and reflection.
Moreover, people are bound to differ constitutionally as well, in ways that will affect what they find plausible or regard as worth pursuing. Universal acceptance and consensus are hence not in the offing, and may never be realized in philosophy. But that does not entail scepticism or relativism, since equal access to the truth is not guaranteed to all by their very constitution and opportunities.
Rescher’s most important contributions to philosophy have prominently involved: the rehabilitation of idealism in general and the coherence theory of truth in particular.
The revival and reconstruction of pragmatism. The development of inconsistency-tolerant logic: and the development of an exponential retardation theory of scientific progress.
In sheer productivity and in the vast scope of his accomplishment, Rescher has few peers in the history of philosophy. From his great energy, intellectual power and restless curiosity has come a system of philosophy unsurpassed in our century.
Secretary general International Union History and Philosophy Science United Nations Educational, 1969—1972. Member of Academy Europaea, Academie International de Philosophie des Sciences, Institute International de Philosophie, C. S. Perice Society (past president), G. W. Leibniz Society of America, Royal Society of Canada, Royal Asiatic Society, American Metaphys. Society, American Catholic Philosophical Association, American Philosophical Association (Aquinas medal 2007).
Logic; philosophy of science. Leibniz’s philosophy.
German idealism and American pragmatism.
Married Dorothy Henle, February 10, 1968. Children: Mark, Owen, Catherine;1 child from previous marriage Elizabeth.