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Urbanomic/Sequence Press
On Logic and the Theory of Science
A new translation of the final work of French philosopher Jean Cavaillès.
In this short, dense essay, Jean Cavaillès evaluates philosophical efforts to determine the origin--logical or ontological--of scientific thought, arguing that, rather than seeking to found science in original intentional acts, a priori meanings, or foundational logical relations, any adequate theory must involve a history of the concept.
Cavaillès insists on a historical epistemology that is conceptual rather than phenomenological, and a logic that is dialectical rather than transcendental. His famous call (cited by Foucault) to abandon "a philosophy of consciousness" for "a philosophy of the concept" was crucial in displacing the focus of philosophical enquiry from aprioristic foundations toward structural historical shifts in the conceptual fabric.
This new translation of Cavaillès's final work, written in 1942 during his imprisonment for Resistance activities, presents an opportunity to reencounter an original and lucid thinker. Cavaillès's subtle adjudication between positivistic claims that science has no need of philosophy, and philosophers' obstinate disregard for actual scientific events, speaks to a dilemma that remains pertinent for us today. His affirmation of the authority of scientific thinking combined with his commitment to conceptual creation yields a radical defense of the freedom of thought and the possibility of the new.
In this short, dense essay, Jean Cavaillès evaluates philosophical efforts to determine the origin--logical or ontological--of scientific thought, arguing that, rather than seeking to found science in original intentional acts, a priori meanings, or foundational logical relations, any adequate theory must involve a history of the concept.
Cavaillès insists on a historical epistemology that is conceptual rather than phenomenological, and a logic that is dialectical rather than transcendental. His famous call (cited by Foucault) to abandon "a philosophy of consciousness" for "a philosophy of the concept" was crucial in displacing the focus of philosophical enquiry from aprioristic foundations toward structural historical shifts in the conceptual fabric.
This new translation of Cavaillès's final work, written in 1942 during his imprisonment for Resistance activities, presents an opportunity to reencounter an original and lucid thinker. Cavaillès's subtle adjudication between positivistic claims that science has no need of philosophy, and philosophers' obstinate disregard for actual scientific events, speaks to a dilemma that remains pertinent for us today. His affirmation of the authority of scientific thinking combined with his commitment to conceptual creation yields a radical defense of the freedom of thought and the possibility of the new.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
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About the author
Jean Cavaillès
7 books7 followersJean Cavaillès was a French philosopher and logician who specialized in philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of science. He took part in the French Resistance within the Libération movement and was arrested by the Gestapo on 17 February 1944 and shot on 4 April 1944.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 25, 2021
Mathematics is to Cavaillès what oil is to Negarestani, I will not be elaborating on this point here. Big shouts to Sequence Press for mailing the advanced copy
May 24, 2024
Snap er geen jota van maar enorm boeiend, mocht ik oprecht geïnteresseerd zijn in Franse neokantiaanse epistemologen uit het midden van de 20ste eeuw, zou ik het meteen opnieuw lezen :))
December 22, 2024
short enough to read within a single delirium, dense enough to read every page over & over & over. perfect for light conversation with family around the holidays, perfect for crazy math people.
"If transcendental logic truly grounds logic then there is no absolute logic (...) If there is an absolute logic it can draw its authority only from itself; it is not transcendental."
"If transcendental logic truly grounds logic then there is no absolute logic (...) If there is an absolute logic it can draw its authority only from itself; it is not transcendental."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews