BOOKS ON PHILOSOPHICAL THEORY

Books on philosophical theory , the subject matter, methods, aims, scope and function of philosophical theory are needed mostly for academicians.

The term philosophy is derived from a Greek word meaning love (philos) of wisdom (sophia). The subject philosophy is concerned with the nature of the universe and our position in it.

Metaphilosophy is the branch of philosophy concerned with:

• the study of the subject, matter, methods and aims of philosophy
• the foundation, scope, function and direction of philosophy
• justification of philosophical methods and arguments

• the interrelations among schools of philosophy
• aspects of philosophical systems
• presuppositions of philosophical schools
• the relation of philosophy to other disciplines
• the relevance of philosophy to social and political action
• issues in the teaching of philosophy

The term theory implies an assumption, opinion, speculation or inference which is not always based on facts or reality. Philosophical theory is based on empirical data which explains the interaction of natural or social phenomena. Thus philosophical theory is a systematic expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable.

Books on philosophical theory contain the following basic chapters:

• Rhetorical (Literary) Models of Philosophy
• Scientific Models of Philosophy
• Socio-Political Models of Philosophy
• Feminist Perspectives on Philosophy
• Post-colonial Perspectives on Philosophy

Some books on philosophical theory :

•  Baynes, Kenneth, James Bohman, and Thomas McCarthy, eds. After Philosophy: End or Transformation

•  Cohen, Avner, and Marcelo Dascal, eds. The Institution of Philosophy: a Discipline in Crisis

•  Ragland, C. P., and Sarah Heidt, eds. What is Philosophy?

•  Carel, Havi, and David Gamez, eds. What Philosophy Is

•  Griffiths, A. Phillips, ed. The Impulse to Philosophise

•  Harding, Sandra, and Uma Narayan, eds. Decentering the Center: Philosophy for a Multicultural, Postcolonial and Feminist World

•  Leiter, Brian, ed. The Future for Philosophy

•  Arac, Jonathan, and Barbara Johnson, eds. The Consequences of Theory

•  Butler, Judith, John Guillory, and Kendall Thomas, eds. What's Left of Theory?

Thus books on philosophical theory not only provide the theoretical knowledge but also give a practical idea.