World without Design: The Ontological Consequences of Naturalism

by Michael C. Rea

Philosophical naturalism, according to which philosophy is continuous with the natural sciences, has dominated the Western academy for well over a century, but Michael Rea claims that it is without rational foundation. Rea argues compellingly to the surprising conclusion that naturalists are committed to rejecting realism about material objects, materialism, and perhaps realism about other minds.

Genres: Philosophy, Metaphysics, Science

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Dario Vaccaro]

Read Chapter 1, "Introduction", and Chapter 7, "What Price Antirealism?". Both present interesting challenges to naturalism and its compatibility with other theses usually endorsed by naturalists, although I worry that his conception of "naturalism" may be a little too close to what is encompassed under "(radical) empiricism".