Kant and the Platypus by Umberto Eco (Hardcover, 1999)

How we know that a cat is a cat is a nice philosophical poser, and has been since the time of Plato. Why we should all agree on calling the animal a cat is equally interesting, yet it throws up the problem that lies at the heart of all modern philosophy- how much do our perceptions of things depend on our cognitive ability, and how much on our linguistic resources? Where, and how, do these two questions meet?

Having decided against a systematic treatment of his subject, Umberto Eco undertakes a series of idiosyncratic and typically brilliant explorations, starting from the perceived data of common sense, from which flow an abundance of 'stories' or fables, often with animals as protagonists, to expound a clear critique of Kant, Heidegger and Peirce. And, as a beast designed specifically to throw spanners in the works of cognitive theory, the duckbilled platypus naturally takes centre stage.

Format: Hardback | 464 pages

Dimensions (cm): 23.6 x 16 x 3.9 | 796g

Publication Date: 01 Nov 1999

Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company

Publication City/Country: United States

Language: English

Edition Number: 1

ISBN10: 0151004471

ISBN13: 9780151004478

 

Condition: Good

A vintage book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including minor scratching on the back cover, but no holes or tears. The dust jacket is included and in a good condition (minor scuff marks along the edges). The majority of pages are undamaged with no creasing or tearing, no pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. There are very minor sprinkles or tiny blotches of discolouring that mostly only show on the book's fore-edge, top-edge, and bottom-edge when book is shut and not on any individual page. No missing pages.