The philosophy of the humanistic sciences has been a blind-spot in analytic philosophy. This book argues that by adopting an appropriate pragmatic analysis of explanation and interpretation it is possible to show that scientific practice of humanistic sciences can be understood on similar lines to scientific practice of natural and social sciences.
Jan Faye
argue construction interpret modernism philosophy postmodernism pragmatics reconstruction
Faye's efforts to remedy the postmodern condition deserve the widest critical support.
-Thomas Uebel, The Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook
Faye's neomodernism with its emphasis on naturalistic and pragmatic considerations is a step into the right direction. Abandoning the humanities in the anarchic world of 'anything goes' is not the right strategy for an analytic philosophy of science, and Faye has shown one way to claim back the philosophy of humanities from the occupation of postmodernism. Though neomodernism might not have reached its maturity yet, it is an overall laudable enterprise.
-C. Mantzavinos, Metascience
Faye's book examines the most typical representatives not only of the 'analytical', but also of the 'continental' philosophy (such as Gadamer, Habermas, Heidegger, Derrida, and Ricoeur). All this makes this book a very important contribution to the discussion concerning the epistemological and methodological status of the human sciences
-Marco Buzzoni, RECENSIONI