What was the full name of the American philosopher discussed in the text, and what were his birth and death dates?

The American philosopher discussed in the text was Wilfrid Stalker Sellars. He was born on May 20, 1912, and died on July 2, 1989.

According to the text, what significant impact did Wilfrid Sellars have on philosophy in the United States?

Wilfrid Sellars is credited with revolutionizing both the content and the method of philosophy in the United States, particularly within analytic philosophy, starting in the latter half of the 20th century.

In which major areas of analytic philosophy did Wilfrid Sellars make profound contributions?

Sellars made profound contributions to epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of perception, and philosophy of science.

What are three of Wilfrid Sellars's most notable philosophical contributions mentioned in the introduction?

Sellars's most notable contributions include his critique of foundationalist epistemology, famously termed the "Myth of the Given"; his development of a synoptic philosophy aimed at uniting the manifest and scientific images of the world; and his inferentialist account of meaning.

Who was Wilfrid Sellars's father, and what was his father's philosophical orientation?

Wilfrid Sellars's father was Roy Wood Sellars, who was also a Canadian-American philosopher and a leading proponent of philosophical naturalism in the first half of the twentieth century.

What academic institutions did Wilfrid Sellars attend for his higher education?

Sellars was educated at the University of Michigan, where he earned his B.A., the University at Buffalo for his M.A., and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and obtained his MA.

What was Wilfrid Sellars's role during World War II?

During World War II, Wilfrid Sellars served in military intelligence.

Where did Wilfrid Sellars teach during his academic career?

Sellars taught at the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, Yale University, and from 1963 until his death, at the University of Pittsburgh.

What professional role did Wilfrid Sellars hold in the Metaphysical Society of America?

Wilfrid Sellars served as the president of the Metaphysical Society of America in 1977.

What academic journal did Wilfrid Sellars help found?

Sellars was one of the founders of the journal *Philosophical Studies*.

What is the "space of reasons" as described by Sellars?

The "space of reasons" refers to two aspects: first, the conceptual and behavioral web of language that humans use to navigate their world intelligently, and second, the understanding that discussions of reasons, justification, and intention are distinct from, and not necessarily reducible to, causal explanations used in physical science.

What was Sellars's primary goal in his philosophical work?

Sellars's overarching goal was to reconcile intuitive ways of describing the world, including common sense and traditional philosophy, with a thoroughly naturalist and scientific account of reality. He aimed for a synoptic vision that unified diverse aspects of human understanding.

What philosophical traditions did Sellars synthesize in his work?

Sellars synthesized elements of American pragmatism, British and American analytic philosophy, and Austrian and German logical positivism. His work also engaged significantly with German idealism, particularly in his lectures on Kant.

What is Wilfrid Sellars's most famous work, and in what year was it published?

Wilfrid Sellars's most famous work is "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind," published in 1956.

What is "The Myth of the Given," as critiqued by Sellars in "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind"?

"The Myth of the Given" is Sellars's term for the view that knowledge of our perceptions can be independent of the conceptual processes involved in perception. He attributed this idea to sense-data theories of knowledge.

Which specific philosophical theories did Sellars target in "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind"?

In "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind," Sellars targeted theories such as C. I. Lewis's Kantian pragmatism and Rudolf Carnap's positivism, particularly those relying on sense-data.

What was the purpose of Sellars's "Myth of Jones" parable?

The "Myth of Jones" was a parable Sellars used to defend the possibility of a strict behaviorist worldview by explaining how thoughts, intelligent actions, and subjective experiences could be attributed to individuals within a scientific model.

How did Sellars use the fictional "Ryleans" in his work?

Sellars used the fictional "Ryleans" in his work to address Gilbert Ryle's book *The Concept of Mind*, exploring concepts related to mental states and behavior.

What concept did Sellars introduce in his 1961 paper "The Language of Theories"?

In "The Language of Theories," Sellars introduced the concept of "Kantian empiricism."

How did Sellars define "Kantian empiricism"?

Sellars defined "Kantian empiricism" by distinguishing between two types of claims: those whose revision requires altering the conceptual framework (framework-relative *a priori* truths), and those revisable based on observations made within a fixed conceptual system.

What distinction did Sellars make in his 1962 paper "Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man"?

In "Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man," Sellars distinguished between the "manifest image" and the "scientific image" of the world.

What is the "manifest image" according to Sellars?

The manifest image, as described by Sellars, encompasses our everyday, intuitive understanding of the world, including intentions, thoughts, and appearances. While it can be refined, it does not typically appeal to imperceptible entities.

What does the "scientific image" represent in Sellars's philosophy?

The scientific image, according to Sellars, describes the world in terms of theoretical physical sciences, incorporating concepts like causality and theories about particles and forces.

How did Sellars view the relationship between the manifest and scientific images of the world?

Sellars saw the manifest and scientific images as sometimes complementing each other, but also sometimes conflicting. In cases of conflict, particularly regarding empirical descriptions and explanations, Sellars favored the scientific image, aiming for a synoptic vision that integrated both.

What theory of meaning did Sellars elaborate on in "Meaning as Functional Classification"?

In "Meaning as Functional Classification" (1974), Sellars elaborated on a version of functional role semantics, proposing that thoughts and linguistic utterances derive their content from their relationships with other thoughts, stimuli, and responses.

What were Wilfrid Sellars's political leanings, and how did they manifest in his youth?

Influenced by his socialist father, Wilfrid Sellars was involved in left-wing politics. As a student at the University of Michigan, he was a founding member of "Michigan Socialist House," a student cooperative, and campaigned for socialist candidate Norman Thomas.

How did Robert Brandom assess the significance of Wilfrid Sellars and W. V. O. Quine?

Robert Brandom considered Wilfrid Sellars and Willard Van Orman Quine to be the two most profound and important philosophers of their generation.

What is the "Pittsburgh School" of philosophy, and what is its foundational principle?

The Pittsburgh School is a philosophical movement founded on Sellars's goal of achieving a synoptic philosophy that unifies the everyday (manifest) and scientific views of reality. Prominent members include Robert Brandom and John McDowell.

What is "analytic Hegelianism," and how is it connected to Sellars?

Analytic Hegelianism is a variant of the Pittsburgh School, often associated with Robert Brandom, that incorporates Hegelian ideas into analytic philosophy. It builds upon Sellars's work, particularly his efforts to move analytic philosophy beyond its logical positivist phase towards a more Kantian and then Hegelian perspective.

Which prominent philosophers were influenced by Wilfrid Sellars's work?

Philosophers influenced by Sellars span various fields and include Robert Brandom, John McDowell, John Haugeland, Fred Dretske, Paul Churchland, Richard Rorty, Laurence BonJour, Ruth Millikan, Daniel Dennett, Héctor-Neri Castañeda, and many others listed in the text.

How has Sellars's work been utilized in feminist theory?

Sellars's work has been drawn upon in feminist standpoint theory, notably in the work of scholars like Quill Kukla.

What was the cause of Wilfrid Sellars's death?

Wilfrid Sellars's death in 1989 was the result of long-term alcohol use.

What is the significance of the 1963 publication *Science, Perception and Reality*?

The 1963 publication *Science, Perception and Reality* is significant because it was reissued in 1991 by Ridgeview Publishing Co. and this edition contains a complete bibliography of Sellars's published work through 1989.

What lectures form the basis of Sellars's 1968 book *Science and Metaphysics: Variations on Kantian Themes*?

The book *Science and Metaphysics: Variations on Kantian Themes* is based on the John Locke Lectures Sellars delivered in 1966.

What is the "Rylean myth" mentioned in relation to Sellars's work?

The "Rylean myth" refers to concepts Sellars discussed in relation to Gilbert Ryle's *The Concept of Mind*, particularly concerning how thoughts and mental states are understood and attributed, often in contrast to a behaviorist perspective.

What is "psychological nominalism" as a notable idea attributed to Sellars?

Psychological nominalism is listed as one of Sellars's notable ideas, suggesting a view on the nature of psychological concepts and their relation to language or observable behavior.

What is "critical realism (philosophy of perception)" in the context of Sellars's work?

Critical realism (philosophy of perception) is identified as a key area of Sellars's philosophical focus and a notable idea he developed, suggesting a realist stance on perception that incorporates critical analysis.

What is the "Myth of the Given" and which philosophical traditions did Sellars critique in relation to it?

"The Myth of the Given" is Sellars's critique of foundationalist epistemology, specifically the idea that knowledge can be based on immediate, unmediated sensory experience. He critiqued sense-data theories and thinkers like C. I. Lewis and Rudolf Carnap in relation to this concept.

How did Sellars's work influence the development of analytic philosophy?

Sellars's work significantly influenced analytic philosophy by challenging foundationalist epistemology, proposing a unified view of reality through the integration of manifest and scientific images, and developing novel theories of meaning and language. He is seen as bridging earlier empiricist traditions with later developments.

What is the relationship between Sellars's "manifest image" and "scientific image"?

The manifest image represents the common-sense, intentional, and appearance-based view of the world, while the scientific image describes it through theoretical physics and empirical sciences. Sellars sought a synoptic vision to reconcile these, often prioritizing the scientific image in cases of conflict.

What was the significance of Sellars's engagement with German idealism?

Sellars's work showed a sustained engagement with German idealism, most notably Kantian themes, which he explored in his John Locke Lectures published as *Science and Metaphysics: Variations on Kantian Themes*.

What is the "Pittsburgh School" of philosophy, and who are its key figures?

The Pittsburgh School is a philosophical movement, founded on Wilfrid Sellars's pursuit of a synoptic philosophy that integrates everyday and scientific perspectives. Key figures associated with it include Robert Brandom, John McDowell, and John Haugeland.

What is "Kantian empiricism" as defined by Sellars?

Kantian empiricism, as defined by Sellars, distinguishes between claims that require altering the fundamental conceptual framework (*a priori* truths) and claims that can be revised based on observations within a stable conceptual system.

What is the "space of reasons" and how does it relate to language and intelligence?

The "space of reasons" refers to the conceptual and behavioral framework of language that enables intelligent interaction with the world. It also signifies the distinction between reasoning about justification and intention versus causal explanations used in science.

What was the nature of Sellars's political involvement?

Sellars was involved in left-wing politics, influenced by his socialist father. He co-founded a student cooperative house called "Michigan Socialist House" and campaigned for Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party of America.

What is the "synoptic vision" that Sellars pursued?

The "synoptic vision" was Sellars's aim to create a unified philosophical understanding that reconciles the everyday, common-sense view of the world (the manifest image) with the objective, scientific account of reality (the scientific image).

What is "inferentialism" in the context of Sellars's philosophy?

Inferentialism, as developed by Sellars, is an account of meaning where the meaning of a word or concept is determined by its inferential role – its relationships with other words, concepts, stimuli, and responses within a linguistic or conceptual system.

What is the significance of Sellars's work *Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind* regarding the critique of foundationalism?

*Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind* is where Sellars launched his influential critique of foundationalist epistemology, coining the term "The Myth of the Given" to describe the flawed assumption that knowledge can be grounded in immediate, non-conceptual sensory input.

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Life and Career

Biographical Overview

Wilfrid Stalker Sellars (May 20, 1912 – July 2, 1989) was a pivotal American philosopher, renowned for his development of critical realism and his transformative impact on 20th-century analytic philosophy. His work profoundly influenced epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science.

Education and Mentorship

Sellars pursued his higher education at the University of Michigan (B.A., 1933), the University at Buffalo (M.A., 1934), and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, earning an MA in 1940. He studied under notable figures such as Marvin Farber and Thomas Dewar Weldon, absorbing diverse philosophical traditions.

Academic Trajectory

Following his service in military intelligence during World War II, Sellars embarked on a distinguished academic career. He held positions at the University of Iowa (1938–1946), the University of Minnesota (1947–1958), Yale University (1958–1963), and concluded his career at the University of Pittsburgh (1963–1989). He also served as president of the Metaphysical Society of America in 1977.

Core Philosophical Concepts

The Myth of the Given

Sellars critically examined foundationalist epistemology, particularly the notion that knowledge can be grounded in immediate, unmediated sensory experiences—what he termed "The Myth of the Given." He argued that perception is inherently conceptual and cannot be divorced from the framework of language and reasons.

The Space of Reasons

This influential concept refers to the conceptual and behavioral web of language that enables intelligent understanding and action. Sellars distinguished this normative realm of reasons, justification, and intention from the causal realm described by the natural sciences, emphasizing that talk of reasons cannot be simply reduced to talk of causes and effects.

Manifest and Scientific Images

Sellars proposed a "synoptic philosophy" aimed at reconciling the "manifest image" (our everyday, common-sense understanding of the world, including persons, intentions, and appearances) with the "scientific image" (the world as described by theoretical science, involving particles, forces, and causal laws). He argued for the ultimate primacy of the scientific image in cases of conflict, while seeking a unified worldview.

Kantian Empiricism

In "The Language of Theories," Sellars introduced "Kantian empiricism," distinguishing between conceptual frameworks that are constitutive of knowledge (framework-relative a priori truths) and claims that can be revised based on observations within a fixed conceptual system. This approach sought to integrate Kantian insights with empirical philosophy.

Meaning as Functional Classification

In his later work, Sellars elaborated on a functional role semantics. He posited that thoughts and linguistic utterances derive their content from their relational roles within a system—their connections to stimuli, responses, and other thoughts or utterances. This inferentialist approach views meaning as determined by a word's or concept's place in the "space of reasons."

Seminal Works

"Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind" (1956)

This landmark essay is perhaps Sellars's most famous contribution. Here, he meticulously deconstructs "The Myth of the Given," challenging the traditional empiricist reliance on sense-data. He introduces the "Myth of Jones" parable to illustrate how a behaviorist framework could account for intentionality and inner experience, laying groundwork for his inferentialist semantics.

"Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man" (1962)

In this influential paper, Sellars articulated the distinction between the "manifest image" and the "scientific image" of the world. He famously stated that "the aim of philosophy, abstractly formulated, is to understand how things, in the broadest possible sense of the term, hang together, in the broadest possible sense of the term." He advocated for a synoptic vision where the scientific image holds ultimate explanatory authority.

"The Language of Theories" (1961)

Sellars introduced the concept of "Kantian empiricism" in this work, distinguishing between framework-relative truths and observational claims. This paper explored the relationship between theoretical language and empirical observation, contributing to his broader project of synthesizing different philosophical traditions.

"Meaning as Functional Classification" (1974)

This essay further developed Sellars's inferentialist theory of meaning. He elaborated on how linguistic expressions and mental states acquire their semantic content through their functional roles within a system of language and thought, emphasizing the interconnectedness of syntax, semantics, and normativity.

Political Engagements

Familial Influence

Wilfrid Sellars was the son of Roy Wood Sellars, a prominent Canadian-American philosophical naturalist and socialist thinker of the early 20th century. This familial background undoubtedly shaped Sellars's early intellectual development and his engagement with social and political ideas.

Activism and Affiliations

During his student years at the University of Michigan, Sellars was actively involved in left-wing politics. He was a founding member of the "Michigan Socialist House," one of the first student cooperative housing initiatives in North America, later renamed the Michigan Cooperative House. He also supported the socialist candidate Norman Thomas.

Enduring Legacy

Influence on Contemporary Philosophy

Sellars is widely regarded as one of the most significant philosophers of his generation. His work laid the foundation for the "Pittsburgh School" of philosophy, which includes prominent figures such as Robert Brandom, John McDowell, and John Haugeland. His ideas have also influenced neopragmatism (Richard Rorty), eliminative materialism (Paul Churchland), and various other fields.

Synthesizing Traditions

Sellars is credited with synthesizing elements from American pragmatism, British and American analytic philosophy, and logical positivism, while also engaging deeply with German idealism. His goal of a unified, "synoptic" philosophical vision continues to inspire contemporary thinkers seeking to bridge the gap between common sense and scientific understanding.

Key Philosophical Heirs

Beyond the Pittsburgh School, Sellars's philosophical lineage extends to thinkers like Ruth Millikan, Daniel Dennett, Héctor-Neri Castañeda, and Ken Wilber. His work remains a crucial reference point for debates in the philosophy of mind, language, and epistemology.

Selected Bibliography

Major Publications

Sellars authored numerous influential books and essays. Key works include:

Title	Abbreviation	Year
Pure Pragmatics and Possible Worlds: The Early Essays	PPPW	1980
Science, Perception and Reality	SPR	1963
Philosophical Perspectives	PP	1967
Science and Metaphysics: Variations on Kantian Themes	S&M	1968
Essays in Philosophy and Its History	EPH	1975
Naturalism and Ontology	N&O	1979
The Metaphysics of Epistemology: Lectures		1989
Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind	EPM*	1997 (Original 1956)
Kant's Transcendental Metaphysics: Cassirer Lecture Notes		2002

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References

Wilfrid Sellars (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2009 Edition)

Ted Poston, "Foundationalism" (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Foundationalist Theories of Epistemic Justification (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Jay F. Rosenberg (1990). "Fusing the Images: Nachruf for Wilfrid Sellars." Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 21: 1â23.

Sellars, W. (1974). Meaning as Functional Classification: A perspective on the relation of syntax to semantics. Synthese, 27(3-4), 417-437.

Piccinini, G. (2004). Functionalism, computationalism, and mental contents. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 34(3), 375-410.

Robert Brandom, A Spirit of Trust: A Reading of Hegel's Phenomenology, Harvard University Press, 2019.

Rebecca Kukla, "Objectivity and Perspective in Empirical Knowledge". Episteme 3(1): 80â95. 2006.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Wilfrid Sellars Wikipedia page

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The Sellars Synthesis

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Life and Career 👤

📅 Biographical Overview

🎓 Education and Mentorship

🏛️ Academic Trajectory

Core Philosophical Concepts 💡

🚫 The Myth of the Given

🗣️ The Space of Reasons

🖼️ Manifest and Scientific Images

📜 Kantian Empiricism

⚙️ Meaning as Functional Classification

Seminal Works 📜

📖 "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind" (1956)

🔬 "Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man" (1962)

💬 "The Language of Theories" (1961)

🔄 "Meaning as Functional Classification" (1974)

Political Engagements 🏛️

👨‍👧 Familial Influence

🚩 Activism and Affiliations

Enduring Legacy 🌟

🎓 Influence on Contemporary Philosophy

🤝 Synthesizing Traditions

📚 Key Philosophical Heirs

Selected Bibliography 📚

📖 Major Publications

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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References

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Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Life and Career

Biographical Overview

Education and Mentorship

Academic Trajectory

Core Philosophical Concepts

The Myth of the Given

The Space of Reasons

Manifest and Scientific Images

Kantian Empiricism

Meaning as Functional Classification

Seminal Works

"Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind" (1956)

"Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man" (1962)

"The Language of Theories" (1961)

"Meaning as Functional Classification" (1974)

Political Engagements

Familial Influence

Activism and Affiliations

Enduring Legacy

Influence on Contemporary Philosophy

Synthesizing Traditions

Key Philosophical Heirs

Selected Bibliography

Major Publications

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice