Realism and appearances : an essay in ontology

173 Pages·2000·0.611 MB·English

by  Yolton, John W

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REALISM AND APPEARANCES
An essay in ontology
This book addresses one of the fundamental topics in philosophy:
the relation between appearance and reality.John W.Yolton draws
on a rich combination of historical and contemporary material,
ranging from the early modern period to present-day debates, to
examine this central philosophical preoccupation, which he pre-
sents in terms of distinctions between phenomena and causes,
causes and meaning, and persons and man. He explores in detail
how Locke,Berkeley and Hume talk of appearances and their rela-
tion to reality,and oVers illuminating connections and comparisons
with the work of contemporary philosophers such as Paul
Churchland and John McDowell.He concludes by oVering his own
proposal for a “realism of appearance,” which incorporates ele-
ments of both Humean and Kantian thinking.His important study
will be of interest to a wide range of readers in the history of phi-
losophy, the history of ideas, and contemporary philosophy of
mind,epistemology and metaphysics.
john w. yolton is Professor Emeritus at the Department of
Philosophy,Rutgers University.He is the author of many publica-
tions on John Locke and on the history of philosophy more gener-
ally,most recently Perception and Reality:A History from Descartes to Kant
(Cornell University Press,1996).

REALISM AND
APPEARANCES
An essay in ontology
JOHN W. YOLTON
Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University
         
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©John W. Yolton 2004
First published in printed format 2000
ISBN 0-511-03449-0 eBook (Adobe Reader)
ISBN 0-521-77227-3 hardback
ISBN 0-521-77660-0 paperback
For Jean

We shall have hereafter to enquire into the nature of appearance,but for the
present we may keep a fast hold on this,the appearances exist.This is absolutely
certain,and to deny it is nonsense.And what exists must belong to reality.
F.H.Bradley,Appearance and Reality:A Metaphysical Essay,pp.131–2
’Tis certain,that almost all mankind,and even philosophers themselves,for the
greatest part of their lives,take their perceptions to be their only objects,and
suppose,that the very being,which is intimately present to the mind,is the real
body or material existence. Hume,A Treatise of Human Nature,p.206