In the second half of the last century the problem of categories became less and less prominent in philosophical debates. This twilight of categorial discourse did not go unnoticed, and some authors offered different ...In the second half of the last century the problem of categories became less and less prominent in philosophical debates. This twilight of categorial discourse did not go unnoticed, and some authors offered different solutions for the revival of categorial theorizing in contemporary philosophy＇s repertoire. One of these authors is the American philosopher Stephen Pepper. The purpose of the present discussion is to offer yet another explanation for the decline of categorial theory, and to explore Pepper＇s view and its role in the transformation of categorial discourse. The main thesis which I will argue for is that traditional categories did not disappear altogether, but they have been replaced, gradually, by key empirical concepts from natural science. Even if such concepts do not satisfy the traditional requirements categories in shaping our for a categorial scheme, they are, nonetheless, fulfilling the same role as traditional worldviews.展开更多
文摘In the second half of the last century the problem of categories became less and less prominent in philosophical debates. This twilight of categorial discourse did not go unnoticed, and some authors offered different solutions for the revival of categorial theorizing in contemporary philosophy＇s repertoire. One of these authors is the American philosopher Stephen Pepper. The purpose of the present discussion is to offer yet another explanation for the decline of categorial theory, and to explore Pepper＇s view and its role in the transformation of categorial discourse. The main thesis which I will argue for is that traditional categories did not disappear altogether, but they have been replaced, gradually, by key empirical concepts from natural science. Even if such concepts do not satisfy the traditional requirements categories in shaping our for a categorial scheme, they are, nonetheless, fulfilling the same role as traditional worldviews.
