The Subjective (eBook)

Preface

Introduction    1

PART I. The Basis of Thought    20

I-1. Existence and Subjectivity    22

I-2. The Method of Linguistic Analysis    84

I-3. The Mechanics of Meaning    108

I-4. The Subjective, the Objective and Truth    136

I-5. Philosophy, Religion and Ethics    156

I-6. The Nature of Ethics and Aesthetics    183

I-7. The Nature of Reason    218

I-8. The Four Types of Reason    236

I-8-1. Justification    241

I-8-2. Logic    250

I-8-3. Teleology    270

I-8-4. Causality    280

PART II. Common Misconceptions    290

II-1. Linguistic Confusion    291

II-2. The Dual Nature of Philosophical Problems    302

II-2-1. Meaning    307

II-2-2. Reason and Cause    313

II-2-3. Truth    318

II-2-4. Agreement and Understanding    321

II-2-5. Allowed and Imaginable    325

II-2-6. Free Will    328

II-2-7. Dreams    331

II-3. The Subjective Nature of Morality    341

II-4. The Metaphysical World    370

II-5. Religious Language    401

II-6. The Spiritual World    431

II-7. The Social Nature of Religion    451

II-8. Technological Argumentation    510

II-9. Computationalist Science    544

PART III. Socio-political Analysis    591

III-1. The Basis of Democracy    593

III-2. Democratic Developments    613

III-3. The Decline of Morality    645

III-4. The Invisible Hand    665

III-5. Information-Age Rhetorical Tactics    703

III-5-1. Personalization    705

III-5-2. Caricature    707

III-5-3. Facts    709

III-5-4. Mystification    711

III-5-5. Ignorance    712

III-5-6. Victimizing    714

III-5-7. Umbrage    720

III-5-8. Prudential    722

III-5-9. Pathologizing    724

III-5-10. Propaganda Inserts    728

III-5-11. Experts    732

III-5-12. Dictatorship vs Democracy    736

Acknowledgements    738

About the Author    739