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The Only Free Science: Philosophy Without Presuppositions From Classical German Philosophy to Contemporary Philosophy

Project description

Exploring philosophy as a presupposition-free science

Philosophy as a presuppositionless science (PLS) is traditionally associated with Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s philosophy. PLS aims to demonstrate the distinctiveness of philosophy and its neutral, objective standpoint. Scholars have recognised its importance in understanding Hegel’s philosophy, but they have often overlooked its pre-Hegelian roots in classical German philosophy (CGP) and its contribution to contemporary theories. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the TONES project will explore philosophy as a presupposition-free science and develop it as a new metaphilosophical paradigm supporting value-free science and prejudice-free judgement. It will investigate the origins of PLS in CGP, its metaphilosophical implications regarding philosophy’s distinctiveness compared to other sciences, and its contribution to fields seeking presuppositionlessness or value neutrality.

Objective

TONES aims to explore the idea of philosophy as a presupposition-free science and to develop this idea as a new metaphilosophical paradigm that provides a theoretical underpinning for value-free science and prejudice-free judgment and. The idea of philosophy as a presuppositionless science (PLS) has a significant history: it is traditionally associated with the philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel and is originally developed both to show the uniqueness of philosophy and to ensure the neutral-objective standpoint of philosophy. Growing number of scholars have noticed the significance of PLS mainly to understanding Hegel’s philosophy. Despite this interest, scholars have largely overlooked the pre-Hegelian tradition of PLS in classical German philosophy (CGP), the metaphilosophical significance of PLS and its distinct potential to contribute to contemporary theories that seek freedom from presuppositions. TONES aims to fill this gap. The project is motivated by the following key questions: (1) What are the origins of PLS, and how was it developed in CGP? (2) What are the metaphilosophical implications of PLS for the uniqueness of philosophy compared to other sciences? (3) How the unique standpoint of PLS can fruitfully contribute to contemporary fields that strive for presuppositionlessness or value neutrality, such as implicit bias and value-free science?

Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA
Net EU contribution
€ 172 750,08
Address
VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2
35122 Padova
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Veneto Padova
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Partners (2)