UNE’s David Livingstone Smith publishes online essay and chapter on naturalism

Philosophy professor David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D. has recently published an essay on the Philosophy Talk website, as well as a chapter in the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Social Science.

Smith’s essay, titled “Confessions of a Cassandra,” discusses how he predicted the rise of Trump, even while many of his philosopher friends did not believe that Trump could win the election. Smith notes that on November 9, “my prophecies of doom had earned me the nickname ‘Cassie’ – short for ‘Cassandra,’ the priestess who is condemned to make predictions, which, although accurate, are not believed.” He concludes by urging people to remain vigilant and not become complacent.

In the newly-published Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Social Science, Smith has authored a chapter on “Naturalism.” Broken into four parts—Historical and Philosophical Context, Concepts, Debates and Individual Sciences—the book addresses major themes, movements and topics in the philosophy of social science. It includes thirty-seven newly written chapters, by many of the leading scholars in the field, as well as a comprehensive introduction by the editors. Smith’s chapter on “Naturalism” is in Part I of the book, titled “Historical and Philosophical Context.”

Read “Confessions of a Cassandra” on the Philosophy Talk website.

Read about the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Social Science.

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