Author(s): Michel Weber
Journal: Cosmos and History : the Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy
ISSN 1832-9101
Volume: 7;
Issue: 2;
Start page: 204;
Date: 2011;
Original page
Keywords: William James | Alfred North Whitehead | Radical Empiricism | Epistemology | Political radicalism
ABSTRACT
This essay argues for two complementary theses, one pertaining to epistemology and the other to politics. First, unless philosophy adopts a radical empiricist standpoint and seeks the uttermost generalities, it cannot differentiate itself from yet another form of limited expertise and becomes useless. Second, both radical empiricism and imaginative pragmatism lead the philosopher towards the left end of the political spectrum, i.e., to a radically progressive politics.
Journal: Cosmos and History : the Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy
ISSN 1832-9101
Volume: 7;
Issue: 2;
Start page: 204;
Date: 2011;
Original page
Keywords: William James | Alfred North Whitehead | Radical Empiricism | Epistemology | Political radicalism
ABSTRACT
This essay argues for two complementary theses, one pertaining to epistemology and the other to politics. First, unless philosophy adopts a radical empiricist standpoint and seeks the uttermost generalities, it cannot differentiate itself from yet another form of limited expertise and becomes useless. Second, both radical empiricism and imaginative pragmatism lead the philosopher towards the left end of the political spectrum, i.e., to a radically progressive politics.
