Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Frequently Asked Questions about Time This supplement provides background information about many of the topics discussed in both the main Time article and its other companion article What Else Science Requires of Time (That Philosophers Should Know). It is not intended that this article be read in order. Table of Contents What Are Durations, Instants, … Continue reading Frequently Asked Questions…

Nietzsche: Philosophical Psychology Nietzsche’s philosophical psychology or “drive theory,” as it is commonly designated in the secondary literature, constitutes a rich, distinctive, and compelling account of the human condition. Broadly speaking, Nietzsche maintains that human psychology is either directly reducible to fundamental animalistic drives (such as sexuality and aggression) or can be u…

Philosophy of Mathematical Practice The philosophy of mathematical practice (PMP) is a branch of the philosophy of mathematics that is motivated by, and closely engaged with, mathematical practice. Studies in this area take as their starting point questions that arise in the practice of mathematics, such as how to examine problematic concepts like infinity, what … Continue reading Philosophy of M…

The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities In 1935, Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) published an important paper in which they claimed that the whole formalism of quantum mechanics together with what they called a “Reality Criterion” imply that quantum mechanics cannot be complete. That is, there must … Continu…

The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities In 1935, Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) published an important paper in which they claimed that the whole formalism of quantum mechanics together with what they called a “Reality Criterion” imply that quantum mechanics cannot be complete. That is, there must … Continu…

The Einstein‑Podolsky‑Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities László E. Szabó Abstract In 1935, Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) published an important paper in which they claimed that the whole formalism of quantum mechanics together with what they called a “Reality Criterion” imply that quantum mechanics cannot be complete. That is, there must exist some elements … Continue reading testing →

The Cambridge Platonists The Cambridge Platonists were a loose collection of proto-idealist, humanistic philosophers who were active in England during the mid-to-late 1600’s. Most were teachers associated with Emmanuel College, the most radical of the Calvinist colleges at Cambridge University. They applied what they understood to be Plato’s Rationalism in order to moderate several intellectual ……

Scientism Scientism is often rendered as the view that all real knowledge is scientific knowledge. According to its advocates, science’s distinctive successes make it the best or only way to know, and non-scientific claims must therefore be rejected, downgraded or held in abeyance. It seems obvious that modern science is a powerful and successful mode … Continue reading Scientism →

The Foundations of Mathematics This article examines what is meant by ‘foundation’ in different contexts, and it focuses on four prominent mathematical theories, each of which have been claimed to play some kind of foundational role. As we will see, different features which might be desired from a foundation has led to a variety of … Continue reading Foundations of Mathematics →

Being in Structural-Systematic Philosophy From virtually the beginning of the Western tradition, philosophers have at least sporadically recognized that being is the primordial issue in philosophy. Section 3 asserts that every theoretical sentence is implicitly or explicitly governed by a theoretical operator including a conjugated form of the verb “to be,” hence, everything we think … Continue r…

The Applicability of Mathematics in Physics The problem of the applicability of mathematics is the problem of explaining why mathematics plays various important roles in the natural sciences (or in nature). This problem has a long history and has been addressed by many mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers. As Mark Steiner aptly put it, “to an … Continue reading Applicability of Mathematic…

Primary and Secondary Qualities: Wright’s Account It has long been a philosophical problem to explain the commonly accepted distinction between two kinds of qualities: primary and secondary. While the roots of this debate can be traced back to Plato’s Euthyphro, it was John Locke who, more clearly than others, articulated the distinction and introduced the … Continue reading Primary and Secondary…

Susan Stebbing (1885—1943) Susan Stebbing was the first female professor of philosophy in the United Kingdom, a founder of the journal Analysis, and president of the Mind Association and the Aristotelian Society. One of her most notable academic achievements during that time was developing precise directional analysis, which begins with our common-sense beliefs and breaks … Continue reading Susan…

Sarvāstivāda Buddhism The Sarvāstivāda school of Indian Buddhism emerged from the attempts of early Buddhist communities to systematise the teachings of the Buddha into a complete and consistent description of reality. This often took the form of reducing our phenomenal experience of reality to the atomic, mind-independent fundamental constituents—known as dharmas—from which the mind constructs ……

Philosophy of African Diaspora Religions This article explores philosophical ideas and concepts central to Afro-diasporic religions such as Vodou, Santeria, Candomblé, and Winti. Afro-diasporic religions have their origins in communities displaced by the Atlantic slave trade, blending elements from indigenous African traditions with Christian and original ideas. Afro-diasporic religions have been…