Bøger af Roy Bhaskar

A text of the philosophical movement of critical realism.

The Order of Natural Necessity: A Kind of Introduction to Critical Realism is based on the transcripts from six hours of live streamed talks given by Professor Roy Bhaskar, originator of Critical Realism (CR), in 2014, at University College London: Institute of Education. The Order of Natural Necessity draws the transcript of the talks into book form. Keeping as close as possible to the original intention of the talks, which aimed to present the complexity of CR in an accessible and informative way, assuming that the reader has had little exposure to both the philosophical position taken by CR and the philosophical positions that CR challenges. The Order of Natural Necessity departs from the usual academic presentation of CR, which therefore makes the book ideal for anyone wanting to begin his or her investigation of CR whilst it offers the reader that is more familiar with Roy Bhaskar a handy guide to the most important feature of the three phases of his work. Gary Hawke, who hosted and worked closely with Roy Bhaskar in producing the original streamed talks, has edited the book. He has expanded the original text addressing the questions that students raised during the live streaming through the inclusion of over a 100 footnotes, tables, and diagrams. The Order of Natural Necessity then is not just a book about Roy Bhaskar's work; it also becomes a field guide to other critical realists. This allows The Order of Natural Necessity to become an important starting point in the understanding of Roy Bhaskar's work, and further, application of Critical Realism. Unlike Roy Bhaskar's writing style, his lectures were very clear and listener-friendly. Fortunately, Gary Hawke recorded some of Roy Bhaskar's final lectures, and has edited them into this excellent book, valuable both for beginners and for more experienced critical realists. Priscilla Alderson, Professor Emerita, University College London Institute of Education

In a wide-ranging survey of the minefields of contemporary philosophy and social thought, Roy Bhaskar develops his own positive and highly original theories of the nature of science and being, social science and history, and philosophical discourse and ideology.Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation starts from an assessment of the impasse of contemporary philosophy of science which stems from an incomplete critique of positivism. It then proceeds to a systematic exposition of scientific realism in the form of transcendental realism. This highlights a conception of science as explanatory of a structured, differentiated and changing world.Turning to the social domain, the book argues for a view of the social order as conditioned by, and emergent from, nature. Advocating a critical naturalism, the author shows how the transformational model of social activity together with the conception of social science as explanatory critique which it entails, resolve the divisions besetting orthodox social and normative theory: between society and the individual, structure and agency, fact and value, and theory and practice.From reviews of the author's previous work:'(Roy Bhaskar's work) stands comparison with the work of the contemporary giants of Marxist philosophy on the continent . . . A unique achievement, and it will no doubt be at the centre of discussion, both English and Continental, for some time to come'. Roy Edgley, The Literary Review'A genuinely original argument in the philosophy of science is a rare thing indeed. Mr Bhaskar has indeed produced a new . . . strong, elaborate and well-integrated . . . elegant and powerful argument'. Rom Harre, Mind

Rev. ed. of: Reflections on meta-reality.

Sets out to develop a critique of the work of Richard Rorty, one of the most influential authors. This title argues that Rorty's account of science and knowledge is based on a half-truth, and that Rorty's problem-field replicates the Kantian resolution of the third antinomy: we are determined as material bodies, but free as discursive subjects.

Includes interviews, which tell a story of the formation and development of critical realism.

Dealing with philosophy of science, this book sets out to revindicate ontology, critiquing the reduction of being in favor of knowledge, which the author calls the "epistemic fallacy".

Dealing with contemporary philosophy, this book sets itself three main aims: the development of a general theory of dialectic, of which Hegelian dialectic can be seen to be a special case; the dialectical enrichment and deepening of critical realism; and the outline of the elements of a totalizing critique of Western philosophy.

Presents an introduction to the increasingly influential multi-disciplinary and international body of thought, known as critical realism. This book contains critiques of some of the most important schools of thought and thinkers and advances novel and convincing resolutions of many traditional philosophical problems.

Offers an assessment of the impasse of contemporary accounts of science as stemming from an incomplete critique of positivism. This book provides a systematic exposition of scientific realism in the form of transcendental realism, highlighting a conception of science as explanatory of a structured, differentiated and changing world.

Diagnoses, explains and resolves the "problems of philosophy". This book reviews: the theory of knowledge and philosophy of science; the philosophy of logic and language; the philosophies of space, time and causality; the philosophy of the social and life sciences and of dialectic; and, ethics, politics and aesthetics.

Attacks purely analytical modes of thinking. Bhaskar develops a critical realist philosophy, which isolates the definition of being in terms of knowledge as the characteristic flaw of traditional philosophy. He argues that critical realism is the basis of a new methodology for the human sciences.

This volume covers the critical realist position which is now widely seen as offering a viable alternative to move positivism and postmodernism.