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Our Fundamental Problem A Revolutionary Approach to Philosophy

Maxwell, N; (2020) Our Fundamental Problem A Revolutionary Approach to Philosophy. [Book]. (First ed.). McGill-Queen's University Press - MQUP: Montreal, Canada.

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Abstract

How can the world we live in and see, touch, hear, and smell, the world of living things, people, consciousness, free will, meaning, and value - how can all of this exist and flourish embedded as it is in the physical universe, made up of nothing but physical entities such as electrons and quarks? How can anything be of value if everything in the universe is, ultimately, just physics? In Our Fundamental Problem Nicholas Maxwell argues that this problem of reconciling the human and physical worlds needs to take centre stage in our thinking, so that our best ideas about it interact with our attempts to solve even more important specialized problems of thought and life. When we explore this fundamental problem, Maxwell argues, revolutionary answers emerge for a wide range of questions arising in philosophy, science, social inquiry, academic inquiry as a whole, and - most important of all - our capacity to solve the global problems that threaten our future: climate change, habitat destruction, extinction of species, inequality, war, pollution of earth, sea, and air. An unorthodox introduction to philosophy, Our Fundamental Problem brings philosophy down to earth and demonstrates its vital importance for science, scholarship, education, life, and the fate of the world.

Type: Book
Title: Our Fundamental Problem A Revolutionary Approach to Philosophy
ISBN-13: 9780228002871
Publisher version: https://www.mqup.ca/our-fundamental-problem-produc...
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: Philosophy, The University, Education, Global Problems, Climate Crisis, Enlightenment, Physicalism, Evolution, Human World/Physical Universe Problem, Consciousness, Free Will, Reason, Wisdom, What is of Value
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Science and Technology Studies
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10100598
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