Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge: Reflections on Objectivist Epistemology

by Allan Gotthelf (Editor), James G. Lennox (Editor)

Overview

The philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905–1982) is a cultural phenomenon. Her books have sold more than twenty-eight million copies, and countless individuals speak of her writings as having significantly influenced their lives. Despite her popularity, Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism has received little serious attention from academic philosophers.

Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge offers scholarly analysis of key elements of Ayn Rand’s radically new approach to epistemology. The four essays, by contributors intimately familiar with this area of her work, discuss Rand’s theory of concepts—including its new account of abstraction and essence—and its central role in her epistemology; how that view leads to a distinctive conception of the justification of knowledge; her realist account of perceptual awareness and its role in the acquisition of knowledge; and finally, the implications of that theory for understanding the growth of scientific knowledge. The volume concludes with critical commentary on the essays by distinguished philosophers with differing philosophical viewpoints and the author’s responses to those commentaries.

This is the second book published in Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies, which was developed in conjunction with the Ayn Rand Society to offer a fuller scholarly understanding of this highly original and influential thinker. The Ayn Rand Society, an affiliated group of the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, seeks to foster scholarly study by philosophers of the philosophical thought and writings of Ayn Rand. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822978565
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date:	04/16/2013
Series:	Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	698 KB

About the Author

Allan Gotthelf (1942–2013) was visiting professor of the history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2012 and Anthem Foundation Distinguished Fellow for Research and Teaching in Philosophy at Rutgers University from 2012 to 2013. He is the author of On Ayn Rand and Teleology, First Principles, and Scientific Method in Aristotle’s Biology and coeditor of Philosophical Issues in Aristotle’s Biology and Ayn Rand: A Companion to Her Works and Thought. He was a founding member of the Ayn Rand Society and coeditor of the Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies book series. 

James G. Lennox is professor emeritus of history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of Aristotle on Inquiry, Aristotle: On the Parts of Animals I–IV, and Aristotle’s Philosophy of Biology: Studies in the Origins of Life Science. Lennox is coeditor of Philosophical Issues in Aristotle’s Biology; Being, Nature, and Life in Aristotle: Essays in Honor of Allan Gotthelf; and Concepts, Theories, and Rationality in the Biological Sciences. He was a founding member of the Ayn Rand Society and is coeditor of the Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies series. 

Table of Contents

Contents Preface Part One: Essays Ayn Rand’s Theory of Concepts: Rethinking Abstraction and Essence / Allan Gotthelf Conceptualization and Justification / Gregory Salmieri Perceptual Awareness as Presentational / Onkar Ghate Concepts, Context, and the Advance of Science / James G. Lennox Part Two: Discussion Concepts and Kinds Rand on Concepts, Definitions, and the Advance of Science: Comments on Gotthelf and Lennox / Paul E. Griffiths Natural Kinds and Rand’s Theory of Concepts: Reflections on Griffiths / Onkar Ghate Definitions Rand on Definitions—One Size Fits All?: Comments on Gotthelf / Jim Bogen Taking the Measure of a Definition: Response to Bogen / Allan Gotthelf Concepts and Theory Change On Concepts that Change with the Advance of Science: Comments on Lennox / Richard M. Burian Conceptual Development versus Conceptual Change: Response to Burian / James G. Lennox Perceptual Awareness In Defense of the Theory of Appearing: Comments on Ghate and Salmieri / Pierre Le Morvan Forms of Awareness and “Three-Factor” Theories / Gregory Salmieri Direct Perception and Salmieri’s “Forms of Awareness” / Bill Brewer Keeping Up Appearances: Reflections on the Debate over Perceptual Infallibilism / Benjamin Bayer Uniform Abbreviations of Works by Ayn Rand References Contributors Index

Editorial Reviews

A landmark set of essays, with comments and responses, exploring the implications of Rand's theories on perception, concept-formation, definition, justification, and conceptual change in science. The publication of this remarkable and engaging volume brings to the attention of professionals a theory of knowledge whose depth, breadth, and nuance may surprise them.”
—Harry Binswanger, Editor, second edition of Ayn Rand’s Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology



“By locating Rand’s theory of concepts in both traditional and contemporary debates, this collection offers a textured portrait of her distinctive view while also advancing the debates themselves. The essays are uniformly engaging and incisive, making substantial contributions on such topics as definitions, theory change, and epistemic justification. The crosscurrents in the comments and responses make the issues come alive, and broader applications (such as for value theory) are apparent. Overall, a terrific contribution.”
—Tara A. Smith, University of Texas-Austin


“This second volume of Ayn Rand Society Philosophical Studies provides extensive analysis of Ayn Rand’s epistemology, the most important—but perhaps the least well-known—part of her philosophy of Objectivism. Contributed by scholars both sympathetic to and critical of Rand’s approach, these revealing essays address a wide range of topics, including Rand’s unique accounts of concept-formation and objectivity.”
—Darryl Wright, Harvey Mudd College

From the Publisher