Wilfrid Sellars (1912-89) has been called "the most profound and systematic epistemological thinker of the twentieth century" (Robert Brandom). He was in many respects ahead of his time, and many of his innovations have become widely acknowledged, for example, his attack on the "myth of the given", his functionalist treatment of intentional states, his proposal that psychological concepts are like theoretical concepts, and his suggestion that attributions of knowledge locate the knower "in the logical space of reasons". However, while many philosophers have begun to acknowledge Sellars's inspiration in their work, their interpretation of his thought has not always been the most accurate. His writings are difficult. Individually, his essays are complex and sometimes rely on doctrines and arguments he put forward elsewhere. Each of his articles is deepened and strengthened by seeing it in its systematic context, but he never wrote a unified exposition of his system, which therefore has to be pieced together from numerous disparate sources. Willem deVries addresses these difficulties specifically and provides a careful reading and remarkable overview of Sellars's systematic philosophy that will become the standard point of reference for all philosophers seeking to understand Sellars's hugely significant body of work.

About the Author
Willem A. deVries is Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire.

Reviews
"It would have been impossible for Willem deVries to leave everyone who grapples with Sellars happy with everything in his book. But within the limits of what is offered only as an introduction, he has done an extraordinarily good job of explaining this major thinker." - John McDowell, TLS "A hugely valuable gift to philosophy. It accurately and clearly summarizes the work of perhaps the most difficult major twentieth-century figure in philosophy, and in a way that makes his hugely important contributions accessible to all. It is far and away the most accurate and accessible commentary that we now have on Sellars." - Ruth Millikan, University of Connecticut "thoughtful, reliable, and appropriately comprehensive in scope." - Robert Brandom "The task of writing an effective critical study of Sellar's philosophy is unquestionably a daunting one. DeVries has risen admirably to the occasion. His book is clearly written, comprehensive in its scope, and presents an admirably accurate and sensitive picture of Sellars's philosophical convictions and contributions." - Jay F. Rosenberg, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "A first-rate work on one of the central philosophical figures of the twentieth century. It is clear, comprehensive and authoritative. This book is a major achievement." - Paul Coates, University of Hertfordshire



Book Information
ISBN 9781844650392
Author Willem A. DeVries
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Acumen Publishing Ltd
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 590g