Logical and Spiritual REFLECTIONS

© Avi Sion, 2008. All rights reserved.

Abstract

A collection of shorter philosophical works, in two parts.

The first part, consisting of Logical Reflections, includes:

·        Hume’s Problems with Induction, which replaces the so-called problem of induction with a principle of induction. David Hume’s errors of observation and reasoning, with regard to induction, causation, necessity, the self and freewill, are pointed out and critically analyzed in detail –and more accurate and logical theories are proposed. This work also includes refutations of Hempel’s and Goodman’s alleged paradoxes of induction.

·        A Short Critique of Kant’s Unreason, a refutation of many of Kant’s epistemological and ontological ideas and theories. His transcendental reality, the analytic-synthetic dichotomy, his views on experience and concept formation, on the forms of sensibility (space and time) and understanding (his twelve categories), are all subjected to rigorous logical evaluation and found deeply flawed – and more coherent theories are proposed in their stead.

·        In Defense of Aristotle’s Laws of Thought, which addresses from a phenomenological standpoint numerous modern and Buddhist objections and misconceptions regarding the basic principles of Aristotelian logic.

The second part, consisting of Spiritual Reflections, includes:

·        More Meditations, which proposes additional practical methods and theoretical insights relating to meditation and Buddhism.

·        Zen Judaism, a frank reflection on the tensions between reason and faith in the present context of knowledge, and on the need to inject Zen-like meditation into Judaism.

·        No to Sodom, an essay against homosexuality, using biological, psychological, spiritual, ethical and political arguments.