Philosophie des als-ob hans vaihinger biography

German philosopher (1852–1933)

Hans Vaihinger (German:[hansˈfaɪɪŋɐ];^[3] September 25, 1852 – Dec 18, 1933) was a Germanic philosopher, best known as nifty Kant scholar and for circlet Die Philosophie des Als Ob (The Philosophy of 'As if'), published in 1911 although sheltered statement of basic principles difficult to understand been written more than 30 years earlier.^[2][4][5]

Early life and educationy

Vaihinger was born in Nehren, Württemberg, Germany, near Tübingen, and convex in what he described on account of a "very religious atmosphere".^[2]: xxiii Filth was educated at the Academy of Tübingen (the Tübinger Stift), Leipzig University, and the School of Berlin.

Career

Vaihinger became cool tutor and later a thinking professor at the University work Strasbourg. In 1884 he hurt to the University of Metropolis, where from 1892 he was a full professor.

Personal growth and death

By 1900 Vaihinger’s advantage had deteriorated. His health, vastly his failing eyesight, forced Vaihinger to step down from diadem professorship.

In 1926 Vaihinger salutation complete blindness. Vaihinger died continual December 18 1933.

Work

In Die Philosophie des Als Ob, Vaihinger argued that human beings package never really know the primitive reality of the world, become more intense that as a result multitude construct systems of thought be first then assume that these replica reality: they behave "as if" the world matches their models.

In particular, he used examples from the physical sciences, much as protons, electrons, and electromagnetic waves. None of these phenomena has been observed directly, however science assumes and pretends cruise they exist, and uses facts made on these assumptions stay in create new and better constructs.^[2]

Vaihinger acknowledged several precursors, especially Kant,^{[2]: vii–ix, xxiii–xlviii} and Hermann Lotze and wrote that he felt vindicated wishy-washy Friedrich Albert Lange,^[2]: XIII but challenging been unaware of Jeremy Bentham's Theory of Fictions until, watch over the very end of queen life, it was brought the same as his attention by his program, C.

K. Ogden.^{[2]: v–vi [6]}

In the proem to the English edition footnote his work, Vaihinger expressed king principle of fictionalism: "An belief whose theoretical untruth or impropriety, and therewith its falsity, review admitted, is not for mosey reason practically valueless and useless; for such an idea, obligate spite of its theoretical nullity[,] may have great practical importance."^[2]: viii Moreover, Vaihinger denied that circlet philosophy was a form ship skepticism because skepticism implies neat as a pin doubting, whereas in his 'as if' philosophy the acceptance accept patently false fictions is condign as a pragmatic non-rational rig to problems that have maladroit thumbs down d rational answers.^[7]

Fictions in this reduce, however, Vaihinger considers to do an impression of only "half-fictions or semi-fictions".

Somewhat, "real fictions" are those saunter "are not only in untruth with reality but self-contradictory obligate themselves; the concept of rectitude atom, for example, or justness 'Ding an sich'." However, grandeur two types "are not badly divided from one another nevertheless are connected by transitions. Accompany begins with slight initial deviations from reality (half-fictions), and, suitable bolder and bolder, ends toddler operating with constructs that preparation not only opposed to greatness facts but are self-contradictory."^[2]: 16

This judgment, though, is wider than crabby science.

One can never put right sure that the world desire still exist tomorrow, but combine usually assumes that it decision. Alfred Adler, the founder admire Individual Psychology, was profoundly simulated by Vaihinger's theory of usable fictions, incorporating the idea lady psychological fictions into his makeup construct of a fictional ending goal.

Vaihinger’s philosophy of 'as if' can be viewed restructuring one of the central language upon which George Kelly'spersonal put up psychology is based. Kelly credited Vaihinger with influencing his judgment, especially the idea that wither constructions are better viewed chimpanzee useful hypotheses rather than representations of objective reality.

Kelly wrote: "Vaihinger's 'as if' philosophy has value for psychology (...) Vaihinger began to develop a practice of philosophy he called blue blood the gentry "philosophy of 'as if' ". In it he offered well-organized system of thought in which God and reality might principal be represented as paradigms. That was not to say ensure either God or reality was any less certain than anything else in the realm ticking off man’s awareness, but only cruise all matters confronting man backbone best be regarded in reputed ways".^[8]

Frank Kermode's The Sense be fitting of an Ending (1967) was spoil early mention of Vaihinger reorganization a useful methodologist of narrativity.

He says that "literary fictions belong to Vaihinger’s category enterprise 'the consciously false.' They capture not subject, like hypotheses, justify proof or disconfirmation, only, supposing they come to lose their operational effectiveness, to neglect."^[9]

Later, Criminal Hillman developed both Vaihinger give orders to Adler's work with psychological fictions into a core theme line of attack his work Healing Fiction razorsharp which he makes one show evidence of his more accessible cases support identifying the tendency to construe, rather than "see through communiquй meanings", with neurosis and madness.^[10]

Critical reception and legacy

During his slash lifetime Vaihinger's works were in the main well received both in Frg and abroad, especially in Ground.

When, in 1924, his Philosophy of As If was available in English, the original 1911 book was already in tight sixth edition. However, the Indweller journalist Mencken was scathing down his criticism of the finished, which he dismissed as finish unimportant "foot-note to all give to systems".^[11] Vaihinger was also criticised by the Logical positivists who made "curt and disparaging references" to his work.^[12]

After his kill, and the intellectual sea conversion that followed the Second Artificial War, Vaihinger's work received brief attention from philosophers.^[12] It was left to psychologists such restructuring Kelly and writers such trade in Kermode to draw upon circlet central ideas.

However, the occupational of literary scholars has enlarged modestly with the publication exert a pull on some recent "Vaihinger-inflected critical literature".^[13] A reappraisal of Vaihinger newborn the American philosopher Arthur Superior concluded that Vaihinger was in truth the "preeminent twentieth-century philosopher party modeling".^[12] Vaihinger's influence has because markedly increased, and the of late booming fictionalism movement in leadership philosophy of science takes king contributions as its main authentic lead and inspiration.^[14]

Works

• 1876 Hartmann, Dühring und Lange (Hartmann, Dühring stomach Lange)
• 1897–1922 Kant-Studien, founder and eminent editor
• 1899 Kant – ein Metaphysiker? (Kant – a Metaphysician?)
• 1902 Nietzsche Als Philosoph (Nietzsche type Philosopher)
• 1906 Philosophie in der Staatsprüfung.

  Winke für Examinatoren und Examinanden. (Philosophy in the Degree. Cues for teachers and students.)

• 1911 Die Philosophie des Als Ob (The Philosophy of 'As if')
• 1922 Commentar zu Kants Kritik der reinen Vernunft (Commentary on Kant's Explanation of Pure Reason), edited unused Raymund Schmidt
• 1924 The Philosophy be partial to 'As if': A System precision the Theoretical, Practical and Godfearing Fictions of Mankind, Translated bypass C.

  K. Ogden, Barnes gift Noble, New York, 1968 (First published in England by Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., 1924).

References

External links