Page 4 - Logical and Spiritual Reflections
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Abstract


Logical and Spiritual Reflections is a collection of six shorter philosophical works, in two
parts.

The first part, consisting of Logical Reflections, includes:

 Hume’s Problems with Induction, which is intended to describe and refute some of the
main doubts and objections David Hume raised with regard to inductive reasoning. It
replaces the so-called problem of induction with a principle of induction. David
Hume’s notorious skepticism was based on errors of observation and reasoning, with
regard to induction, causation, necessity, the self and freewill. These are here pointed
out and critically analyzed in detail – and more accurate and logical theories are
proposed. This work also includes refutations of Hempel’s and Goodman’s alleged
paradoxes of induction.

 A Short Critique of Kant’s Unreason, which is a brief critical analysis of some of the
salient epistemological and ontological ideas and theses in Immanuel Kant’s famous
Critique of Pure Reason. It shows that Kant was in no position to criticize reason,
because he neither sufficiently understood its workings nor had the logical tools needed
for the task. Kant’s transcendental reality, his analytic-synthetic dichotomy, his views
on experience and concept formation, and on the forms of sensibility (space and time)
and understanding (his twelve categories), are here all subjected to rigorous logical
evaluation and found deeply flawed – and more coherent theories are proposed in their
stead.
 In Defense of Aristotle’s Laws of Thought, which addresses, from a
phenomenological standpoint, numerous modern and Buddhist objections and
misconceptions regarding the basic principles of Aristotelian logic. Many people seem
to be attacking Aristotle’s Laws of Thought nowadays, some coming from the West
and some from the East. It is important to review and refute such ideas as they arise.

The second part, consisting of Spiritual Reflections, includes:

 More Meditations, which is a sequel to the author’s earlier work, Meditations. It
proposes additional practical methods and theoretical insights relating to meditation
and Buddhism. It also discusses certain often glossed over issues relating to Buddhism
– notably, historicity, idolatry, messianism, importation to the West.

 Zen Judaism, which is a frank reflection on the tensions between reason and faith in
today’s context of knowledge, and on the need to inject Zen-like meditation into
Judaism. This work also treats some issues in ethics and theodicy.

 No to Sodom, which is an essay against homosexuality, using biological,
psychological, spiritual, ethical and political arguments.
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