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The Philosophy of 'As If': A System of the Theoretical, Practical and Religious Fictions of Mankind.
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781025900711
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 428
Weight: 1.70
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Philosophy of 'As If' is a monumental contribution to epistemology and philosophical fictionalism. In this systematic investigation, Hans Vaihinger explores the profound concept that many human ideas-though demonstrably false or contradictory-are indispensable fictions used to navigate the world. Vaihinger distinguishes these productive fictions from hypotheses, arguing that while hypotheses seek to describe reality, fictions are intentional mental constructs designed to facilitate thought and action.
The work provides a comprehensive analysis of how these constructs operate across various fields, including mathematics, science, ethics, and religion. By examining the theoretical, practical and religious fictions of mankind, the text suggests that human progress often depends on treating concepts as if they were true to achieve specific goals. This rigorous framework challenges traditional views on truth and reality, offering instead a pragmatic view of human cognition and the utility of the mind's creations. The Philosophy of 'As If' remains a vital resource for scholars of logic and philosophy, exerting a lasting influence on 20th-century thought and psychology.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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