Francis Bradley’s metaphysics and limits of scientific knowledge


	Philosophy and Culture Reference: Kuleshov A.V. Francis Bradley’s metaphysics and limits of scientific knowledge // Philosophy and Culture. 2017. № 1. P. 30-39. URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=68573 Kuleshov A.V. Francis Bradley’s metaphysics and limits of scientific knowledge Abstract: The subject of this research is the metaphysics of the English philosopher of the late XIX – early XX century Francis Bradley. The author examines the relation between metaphysical and special scientific knowledge within the framework of Bradley’s doctrine, particularly the crucial differences between metaphysics and science, which are based on the inherent to Bradley dichotomy of the visual and real, partial and whole, controversial and certain. The concept of the English philosopher correlates with the contemporary trends in development of special sciences and their attempts to create the final, all-encompassing scientific theory, formulate the ultimate explanation of reality. The article subjects to analysis the fundamental metaphysical and logical works of Francis Bradley, as well as the modern scientific and philosophical texts. The conclusion is made that in Bradley’s system, metaphysics plays the role of knowledge that approaches towards the adequate image of the Absolute reality. Special science are capable of expressing the incomplete truths, which are fairly productive within the boundaries of partial cognition of the reality. The attempts to overcome this limitation and solve metaphysical questions using the scientific means, determine the visible, partial, and controversial nature of the scientific knowledge. The provided in the article assessment of the trends in development of modern science underlines the legitimacy of limitations applied by metaphysics of F. Bradley upon the scientific knowledge. The author suggest an alternative to characteristic to Bradley understanding principle of determination of the subject of metaphysics. Keywords: contradiction, integrity, partiality, appearance, reality, absolute idealism, certainty, science, limit of scientific knowledge This article is unavailable for unregistered users. Click to login or register References 1. Aleksandrov I. Yu. Krizis idei fundamentalizma v epistemologii i problema sootnosheniya nauchnogo i vnenauchnogo v znanii v ramkakh rassmotreniya nauki kak podsistemy kul'tury / I.Yu. Aleksandrov // Trudy. ¬ – SPb.: SPbGUKI, 2010. ¬ – T. 190: Sovremennye problemy mezhkul'turnykh kommunikatsiy. ¬ – S. 130¬-170. 2. Antipin N. A. Problema real'nosti Absolyuta v rabotakh Bredli i Shankary / N. A. 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Kuleshov A.V. Francis Bradley’s metaphysics and limits of scientific knowledge