Toward a Philosophical Theory of Everything

Alan White is the Mark Hopkins Professor of Philosophy at Williams College, USA.

• AcknowledgmentsForeword, by Lorenz B. Puntel Chapter 1. Preliminaries1.1 An initial clarification of this book’s subtitle1.2 An initial clarification of this book’s title1.3 Preliminary remarks on methodology1.4 A philosophically consequent stylistic peculiarity1.5 The structure of this bookChapter 2. Theoretical frameworks2.1 “Theoretical framework2.2 The SSP as a network2.3 Seven central theses concerning theoretical frameworks2.4 A family of theoretical frameworks rejected by the SSRPP2.5 The SSP’s abstract theoretical framework2.6 Concretizing the SSP’s theoretical frameworkChapter 3. Truth3.1 The task3.2 Substantialism and deflationism3.3 The basic error behind all deflationary theories of truth3.4 The truth term3.5 It is true that . . . if and only if Chapter 4. Knowledge 4.1 The inadequacy of the definition of knowledge as justified true belief4.2 The SSP’s definition of knowledge 4.3 False knowledge Chapter 5. Theoreticity, practicity, affectivity5.1 Modes of engagement5.2 Theoretical, practical, and aesthetic values 5.3 Sentences and operators Chapter 6. Human freedom6.1 Terminological clarifications 6.2 Adding a theory of freedom to the SSP 6.3 A theory of freedom for the SSP 6.4 Human freedom and systematic philosophy Chapter 7. Beauty 7.1 Callological delight 7.2 Complex callological delight 7.3 Callological delight and beauty 7.4 Callological delight and callological evaluation 7.5 All factings are beautiful 7.6 Degrees of beauty 7.7 Ugliness 7.8 Callological disagreement Chapter 8. Being 8.1 Articulating being 8.2 Theories of being and theories of be-ers 8.3 Central aspects of the SSP’s theory of being Works cited Index

To read this book is to feel oneself liberated from some of philosophy’s oldest dogmas. Rejecting the view that systematic philosophy has to provide unchangeable truth, White undertakes a “theory of everything” which aspires instead to be the best available. In so doing he connects many dotsthat have long needed connecting, from the ontology of propositions to the purpose of religion. He does this speedily, yet without haste; clearly, yet without simplification. Whether or not one agrees with all details of his presentation, Toward a Philosophical Theory of Everything clearly points philosophy into a new and different future.