Paul Edwards' October 1989 essay, ‘Heidegger's Quest for Being’ illustrates the wisdom of the dictum that the only legitimate criticism of a philosopher's position is a constructive criticism. His negative critique amounts to no more than expressions of distaste, dislike, and displeasure, and nothing of philosophical interest follows from his assertions, as the discourse is primarily an argument ad hominem . He grossly misinterprets Heidegger on some elemental and fundamental matters as well. In particular, he sorely misinterprets what he refers (...) to as the ‘Quest for Being’, which only further contributes to the objectionable character of the essay. (shrink)

Employs philosophy to help illuminate the nature of nursing and provide a holistic view of both nursing and persons.

A survey of the literature of philosophy reveals that the distinction between the conceivable and the inconceivable is the ground of many of the more characteristic and interesting theses of philosophy. To cite a few famous cases, it is used variously: by Immanuel Kant, as a basis for determining the limits of human knowledge; by George Berkeley, as a ground for arguing for the nonexistence of material substance; and by René Descartes as a proof for his own existence. This paper (...) is written on the assumption that a distinction which has been so fruitful and useful in the history of philosophy is worthy of examination for its own sake, and in the hope that such an examination might prepare a way through the present relative impasse in substantive metaphysics and philosophical cosmology. What is being attempted is a propaedeutic to future metaphysics, but one which will be justified only if future metaphysics is forthcoming. This paper is an attempt to survey the resources which the human mind possesses within itself for achieving a unified view of reality. As a means I make use of insights from many areas of philosophy, both traditional and analytic. But the end is frankly speculative. (shrink)