Critical Rationalism, the Social Sciences and the Humanities: Essays for Joseph Agassi, Volume I + II

In Volume I the contributors focus particularly on the broad philosophical framework known as critical rationalism, testing its limitations and discovering surprising connections. The essays well illustrate the fecundity and range of Professor Agassi’s interests, and the broad range of persons he has influenced. Of particular concern in the volume are the broad frameworks of rationality and of religion. The religion of science, which is something Agassi has always opposed, is debated here. Among other distinguished contributors, the volume contains one of the last papers by the late Paul K. Feyerabend. A feature of Volume II is the broad range of the contributors, drawn from Europe, the Middle East and North America, testifying both to the range of Professor Agassi’s interests and the geographical spread of his influence. Most contributors use Agassi’s ideas as a springboard to engage in debate on issues, or offer a contribution in an area that interests him. In this volume contributors consider such questions as: Agassi’s philosophy of education, in practice as well as in theory; the impact of psychology on philosophy; the origins of critical rationalism in the Bible; and the debates in economics stimulated by the work of Popper and Agassi. Besides the special topics, the reader should gain some sense of the fruitfulness of critical rationalism in the hands of Agassi’s friends and colleagues.