Scientific Challenges to Common Sense Philosophy

Common sense philosophy states that widely and deeply held beliefs are true in the absence of defeaters. Recent advances in scientific disciplines have called this reliability into question. This collection of essays explores the tension between common sense and scientific beliefs and examines how scientific considerations influence common sense philosophy. It features contributions from philosophers and scientists and discusses conflicts between commonsensical and scientific views on topics such as space, time, human nature, free will, rationality, morality, and religious belief.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Common sense philosophy posits that widely and deeply held beliefs are justified in the absence of defeaters. While this tradition has faced philosophical detractors who have defended skepticism or sought rival epistemological views, recent advancements in various scientific disciplines have called into question the reliability of the faculties that produce our common sense beliefs. At the same time, it seems reasonable to argue that we cannot entirely do without common sense beliefs. Arguably, science and the scientific method are built upon and continue to rely on common sense.

This collection of essays explores the tenability of common sense in the face of recent challenges from the empirical sciences. It examines the extent to which scientific considerations, rather than philosophical considerations, put pressure on common sense philosophy. The book is structured in a way that promotes dialogue between philosophers and scientists.

Noah Lemos, one of the most influential contemporary advocates of the common sense tradition, provides an overview of the nature and scope of common sense beliefs and examines philosophical objections to common sense and its relationship to scientific beliefs. The volume then features essays by scientists and philosophers of science who discuss various proposed conflicts between commonsensical and scientific beliefs, including the reality of space and time, the nature of human beings, free will and identity, rationality, morality, and religious belief.

Notable philosophers who embrace the common sense tradition respond to these essays to explore the connection between common sense philosophy and contemporary debates in evolutionary biology, neuroscience, physics, and psychology.

In conclusion, this collection of essays provides a valuable exploration of the relationship between common sense philosophy and the empirical sciences. It highlights the challenges posed by recent scientific advancements and the need for a nuanced understanding of the role of common sense in our understanding of the world. By promoting dialogue between philosophers and scientists, the book seeks to advance our understanding of the nature and limits of common sense and its implications for our philosophical and scientific endeavors.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367532673