The Strife of Systems: An Essay on the Grounds and Implications of Philosophical Diversity

By Nicholas Rescher

Book Overview

The disagreement of philosophers is notorious. In this book, Rescher develops a theory that accounts for this conflict and shows how the basis for philosophical disagreement roots in divergent 'cognitive values'-values regarding matters such as importance, centrality, and priority. In light of this analysis, Rescher maintains that, despite this inevitable discord, a skeptical or indifferentist reaction to traditional philosophy is not warranted, seeing that genuine value-conflicts are at issue. He argues that philosophy is an important and worthwhile enterprise, notwithstanding its inability to achieve rationally constrained consensus on the issues. Given the nature of the enterprise, consensus is not a realistic goal, and failure to achieve it is not a defect. Accordingly, Rescher argues against the revisionist views proposed by Richard Rorty and Robert Nozick. His discussions are devoted to providing a clear view of why philosophical problems arise and how philosophers address them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082298492X
• ISBN13: 9780822984924
• Release Date: May 1985
• Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"