Inspirations from Kant. Essays, by Leslie Stevenson [Review]
Journal
Mind
Journal Volume
123
Journal Issue
490
Pages
644--649
Date Issued
2014-04
Author(s)
Abstract
The volume collects nine essays by Leslie Stevenson written since 2000. Some have already appeared in journals, but are modified here. Others are new. They mainly focus on Kant’s theoretical philosophy, although some essays extend the domain to include freedom, belief, and action. At various points in the volume the essays refer to and build on each other, so that they make a coherent whole and not a loose collection. The topics include representation, perception, conceptual and non-conceptual content, synthesis, the given, memory, testimony, the idea of a theory of everything in physics, verificationism, freedom in belief (to affirm or deny), freedom in action (to pursue or avoid), freedom as two-way power (capricious), freedom as one-way power (under the guidance of reason), spontaneity (in understanding, reason, and action), informational states, belief and acceptance, refutation of laughable ideas of reductionism, and determinism as a paper tiger. In general the book is systematic and not historical. It is written in the style of analytic philosophy. Although sometimes the discussion is close to Kant, the general tendency is to provide discussions that are inspired by Kant and lead to contemporary issues in epistemology broadly construed.
Type
journal article