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The Novelty of New RealismIn the Italian public cultural discussion it has often been argued that philosophical realism is an obsolete and irrelevant conception and that no attention should be given to its new versions. In this article, it is argued that this thesis is flawed because the issue of realism is philosophically inescapable. This will be argued by discussing two examples that come from science. The first example concerns the concept of species, which is hotly debated today both in biology and in the philosophy of biology. What is relevant here is that none of the available definitions of species cover all the cases biologists would like to cover – so that several scholars have taken the antirealist attitude by denying the objective reality of species. The other example concerns the birth of modern science, which (against some contemporary interpretations) cannot be understood without appreciating its deep commitments toward a realistic interpretation of scientific theories. Some objections will also be dealt with that have been raised by the antirealists, such as the one centered on the alleged connection of new realism with political realism and another that concerns the status of conventions in our practices.

"Featuring original essays from leading scholars in philosophy and psychology, this volume investigates and rethinks the role of practical wisdom in light of the most recent developments in virtue theory and moral, social and developmental psychology. The concept of phronesis has long held a prominent place in the development of Aristotelian virtue ethics and moral education. However, the nature and development of phronesis is still in need of investigation, especially because of the new insights that in recent years have come from both philosophy and science. The essays in this volume contribute to the debate about practical wisdom by elucidating its role in empirical psychology and advancing important new research questions. They address various topics related to practical wisdom and its development, including honesty, ecocentric phronesis, social cognitive theory, practical wisdom in limited-information contexts, Whole Trait Theory, skill models, the reciprocity of virtue, and challenges from situationism. Practical Wisdom will interest researchers and advanced students working in virtue ethics, moral psychology, and moral education"--

During his long career, Hilary Putnam repeatedly revised his philosophical positions. This unique volume is a window into his intellectual humility and breadth of interests, as his own thinking evolved in dialogue with contemporaries such as Sellars, Habermas, Rorty, Chomsky, McDowell, Nussbaum, W. V. Quine, Cora Diamond, and Cornel West.

Frontmatter -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Introduction: The Nature of Naturalism -- 1 The Charm of Naturalism -- 2 The Miracle of Monism -- 3 The Content and Appeal of "Naturalism" -- 4 Naturalism Without Representationalism -- II MIND -- 5 Naturalism in the Philosophy of Mind -- 6 Naturalism and Skepticism -- 7 Intentionality and Norms -- 8 Could There Be a Science of Rationality? -- III AGENCY -- 9 Agency and Alienation -- 10 Is Freedom Really a Mystery? -- 11 Subjectivity and the Agential Perspective -- IV ETHICAL AND AESTHETIC NORMATIVITY -- 12 A Nonnaturalist Account of Personal Identity -- 13 Against Naturalism in Ethics -- 14 Postscript (2002) to "The Investigations' Everyday Aesthetics of Itself" -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Contributors -- Index