Book contents
- Interpreting Carnap
- Interpreting Carnap
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Philosophy in New Dress
- Chapter 1 Carnap’s Noncognitivism
- Chapter 2 Carnap Is Not against Metaphysics
- Chapter 3 Interpreting Carnap’s Construction of the World
- Chapter 4 Philosophy in a Collective Spirit as “Politics in Its Broadest Sense”
- Part II Naturalism and Method
- Part III The Logical and the Linguistic
- Part IV Science and Theories
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 2 - Carnap Is Not against Metaphysics
from Part I - Philosophy in New Dress
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2024
- Interpreting Carnap
- Interpreting Carnap
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Philosophy in New Dress
- Chapter 1 Carnap’s Noncognitivism
- Chapter 2 Carnap Is Not against Metaphysics
- Chapter 3 Interpreting Carnap’s Construction of the World
- Chapter 4 Philosophy in a Collective Spirit as “Politics in Its Broadest Sense”
- Part II Naturalism and Method
- Part III The Logical and the Linguistic
- Part IV Science and Theories
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Carnap is commonly considered a great opponent of metaphysics. For good reason, as he made numerous derogatory remarks about metaphysics and metaphysicians. But what does Carnap reject when he rejects metaphysics? I distinguish between Early Carnap (before 1930) and Late Carnap (after 1930) and argue that Late Carnap does not reject a specific set of questions or views. Rather, he rejects a particular methodology that he regards as conflicting with empiricism. For example, in “Empiricism, Semantics and Ontology,” Carnap does not reject the thesis that numbers exist as meaningless. Instead, he defends the acceptance of numbers against empiricist concerns. But if merely the methodology and not the subject matter is the problem, then metaphysics can perhaps be saved by fixing the methodology. Indeed, I contend, much of contemporary metaphysics is, from Late Carnap’s perspective, in good standing.
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- Information
- Interpreting CarnapCritical Essays, pp. 32 - 49Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024