Studies in Quantitative Philosophizing - Rescher, Nicholas (De Gruyter, 2010)
Preface; Chapter 1 ON THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF PLATO'S DIVIDED LINE; Chapter 2 ARISTOTLE'S GOLDEN MEAN AND THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING; Chapter 3 OCKHAM'S RAZOR AND ONTOLOGICAL ECONOMY; Chapter 4 PASCAL'S WAGER IN RELIGION; Chapter 5 LEIBNIZ ON COORDINATING EPISTEMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY; Chapter 6 ETHICAL QUANTITIES.
The present book brings together several case studies, dealing with relevant facets of the work of some of philosophy's all-time greats. The subject-matter topic being addressed differs significantly, but in each case there is an attempt to apply mathematical methods and perspectives to the solution of a key philosophical issue in a way that throws instructive light upon it. On this basis it emerges that the question "Are mathematical methods useful in philosophy?" finds a suggestive response in the fact that over two millennia key figures in the history of the subject have indeed thought so