Nicholas Rescher (1928–2024)

Author of G. W. Leibniz's Monadology : An Edition for Students

About the Author

Born in Germany, Nicholas Rescher moved to the United States with his parents in 1939 and became a naturalized American citizen in 1944. He attended Queens College in New York City and he received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1951. Rescher served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954 show more and was employed by the Rand Corporation from 1954 to 1956. He resumed his academic career in 1957 and in 1961 joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, where he is now Research Professor of Philosophy. He played a major role in propelling Pittsburgh into the very top rank among graduate schools in philosophy in the United States. Rescher is the most prolific living American philosophical author, as the list of his books in print reveals. He is also the founding editor of three major philosophical journals: American Philosophical Quarterly, History of Philosophy Quarterly, and Public Affairs Quarterly. Approaching philosophy with a solid background in mathematics and science, he has also specialized in the history of philosophy, with a doctoral dissertation and early articles on Leibniz and, later, with pioneering scholarship on medieval Arabic logic. Rescher's experiences led him to seek practical applications for his philosophical expertise, and he ventured beyond academic philosophy to draw upon empirical research as well as logical method to produce significant works in social thought. He has also sought to formulate a coherent philosophical system in the great tradition. His thinking has moved in the direction of philosophical idealism as he increasingly emphasized the role of mind in constituting its objects. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: N Rescher, N. Rescher, Nicolas Rescher, Nicholas Rescher -, Ed. Nicholas Rescher

Series

Process Thought

Works by Nicholas Rescher

Luck: The Brilliant Randomness of Everyday Life (1995) 90 copies, 1 review

Process Metaphysics: An Introduction to Process Philosophy (1996) 49 copies

Paradoxes: Their Roots, Range, and Resolution (2001) 33 copies

Epistemology: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (2003) 30 copies

The Limits Of Science (The Pittsburgh-Konstanz Series in the Philosophy and History of Science) (1984) 29 copies, 1 review

Pluralism: Against the Demand for Consensus (1993) 29 copies

The philosophy of Leibniz (1967) 25 copies, 1 review

Distributive justice; a constructive critique of the utilitarian theory of distribution (1966) 25 copies, 1 review

A Journey through Philosophy in 101 Anecdotes (2015) 24 copies

Philosophical Reasoning: A Study in the Methodology of Philosophizing (2001) 23 copies

Kant and the Reach of Reason: Studies in Kant's Theory of Rational Systematization (1999) 21 copies, 1 review

Process Philosophy: A Survey of Basic Issues (2000) 19 copies, 1 review

Objectivity: The Obligations of Impersonal Reason (1997) 18 copies

Conditionals (Bradford Books) (2007) 17 copies, 1 review

A System of Pragmatic Idealism, Volume 1: Human Knowledge in Idealistic Perspective (1992) 17 copies, 1 review

Unselfishness: The Role of the Vicarious Affects in Moral Philosophy and Social Theory (1975) 17 copies

A System of Pragmatic Idealism, Volume 2: The Validity of Values (1993) 15 copies, 1 review

Epistemic Logic: A Survey Of the Logic Of Knowledge (2005) 15 copies

Scientific progress : a philosophical essay on the economics of research in natural science (1977) 14 copies

Leibniz: An introduction to his philosophy ('APQ' library of philosophy) (1979) 14 copies

Peirce's Philosophy of Science: Critical Studies in His Theory of Induction & Scientific Method (1978) 14 copies

Nature and Understanding: The Metaphysics and Methods of Science (2001) 13 copies, 1 review

Introduction to Value Theory (1969) 13 copies

Predicting the Future: An Introduction to the Theory of Forecasting (1997) 13 copies

Essays in Honor of Carl G. Hempel: A Tribute on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Synthese Library Book 24) (1969) 12 copies

Unknowability: An Inquiry Into the Limits of Knowledge (2009) 12 copies

Realistic Pragmatism: An Introduction to Pragmatic Philosophy (1999) 12 copies

Philosophical Dialectics: An Essay on Metaphilosophy (2006) 12 copies

Introduction to logic (1964) 12 copies

The coherence theory of truth (1973) 12 copies

Ethical Idealism: An Inquiry into the Nature and Function of Ideals (1987) 11 copies

Aporetics: Rational Deliberation in the Face of Inconsistency (2009) 11 copies

Ignorance: (On the Wider Implications of Deficient Knowledge) (2009) 11 copies, 1 review

A System of Pragmatic Idealism, Volume 3: Metaphilosophical Inquiries (1994) 11 copies, 1 review

The Strife of Systems: An Essay on the Grounds and Implications of Philosophical Diversity (1985) 11 copies

The Logic of Commands (2021) 10 copies

Metaphysical Perspectives (2017) 10 copies

Free will : a philosophical reappraisal (2009) 9 copies

Imagining Irreality: A Study of Unreal Possibilities (2003) 9 copies

Pascal's Wager: A Study of Practical Reasoning in Philosophical Theology (1985) 9 copies

The Logic of decision and action (1967) 9 copies

Rationality: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Nature and the Rationale of Reason (1988) 9 copies

Cognitive Pragmatism: The Theory of Knowledge in Pragmatic Perspective (2001) 8 copies

Methodological Pragmatism: Systems-theoretic Approach to the Theory of Knowledge (1977) 8 copies

Cognitive systematization: A systems-theoretic approach to a coherentist theory of knowledge (1979) 8 copies

Topics in Philosophical Logic (1968) 8 copies

Unpopular Essays on Technological Progress (1980) 8 copies, 1 review

Presumption and the Practices of Tentative Cognition (2006) 7 copies

On Explaining Existence (2012) 7 copies

Scientific explanation and understanding : essays on reasoning and rationality in science (1983) 7 copies

Philosophical Inquiries: An Introduction to Problems of Philosophy (2010) 7 copies

Vagaries of value : basic issues in value theory (2014) 7 copies

Human Interests: Reflections on Philosophical Anthropology (Stanford Series in Philosophy) (1990) 7 copies

Concept Audits: A Philosophical Method (2016) 7 copies

Studies in modality (American philosophical quarterly monograph series) (1974) 7 copies

Scientific explanation (1970) 6 copies

Induction : an essay on the justification of inductive reasoning (1980) 6 copies

Interpreting philosophy : the elements of philosophical hermeneutics (2007) 6 copies

Many-valued logic (1969) 6 copies

Temporal modalities in Arabic logic (Foundations of language. Supplementary series) (2011) 6 copies

Philosophical Standardism: An Empiricist Approach to Philosophical Methodology (Philosophy) (1994) 6 copies, 1 review

Pragmatism in Philosophical Inquiry: Theoretical Considerations and Case Studies (SpringerBriefs in Philosophy) (2016) 6 copies

Complexity: A Philosophical Overview (Science and Technology Studies) (1998) 6 copies

On Leibniz: Expanded Edition (2013) 6 copies, 1 review

Temporal logic (1971) 6 copies

Reality and Its Appearance (Continuum Studies In American Philosophy) (2010) 6 copies

Realism And Pragmatic Epistemology (2005) 5 copies

A theory of possibility: A constructivistic and conceptualistic account of possible individuals and possible worlds (1975) 5 copies

Al-Farabi's Short Commentary on Aristotle's Prior Analytics (1963) 5 copies

Dialectics: A Controversy-Oriented Approach to the Theory of Knowledge (1977) 5 copies

Risk : a philosophical introduction to the theory of risk evaluation and management (1982) 5 copies

Studies in the philosophy of mind: essays (1972) 5 copies

Studies in Arabic Philosophy (1968) 5 copies

On Leibniz (2003) 5 copies

Scholastic meditations (2005) 5 copies

Cognitive Complications: Epistemology in Pragmatic Perspective (2015) 5 copies

Wishful Thinking And Other Philosophical Reflections (2009) 5 copies

The Primacy of Practice: Essays Towards a Pragmatically Kantian Theory of Empirical Knowledge (1973) 5 copies

What If?: Thought Experimentation in Philosophy (2005) 5 copies

Studies in pragmatism (2005) 5 copies

Scepticism: A Critical Reappraisal (1980) 5 copies

Satisfying reason : studies in the theory of knowledge (1995) 5 copies

Commonsense: A New Look at the Old Philosophical Tradition (Aquinas Lecture) (2005) 5 copies

Conceptual idealism (1974) 5 copies

Error: (On Our Predicament When Things Go Wrong) (2006) 5 copies

Logical Inquiries Basic Issues in Philosophical Logic (2014) 5 copies

Metaphysics: The Key Issues from a Realistic Perspective (2006) 5 copies, 1 review

Espionage, statecraft, and the theory of reporting : a philosophical essay on intelligence management (2017) 4 copies

The Logic of Decision and Action 4 copies

Skepticism, a Critical Reappraisal (1980) 4 copies

Philosophische Vorstellungen Studien über die menschliche Erkenntnis (2012) 4 copies

Epistemic merit and other essays on human knowledge (2012) 4 copies

Value reasoning : on the pragmatic rationality of evaluation (2017) 4 copies

Infinite Regress: The Theory and History of Varieties of Change (2010) 4 copies

Beyond Sets (2010) 4 copies

Metaphilosophy : philosophy in philosophical perspective (2014) 4 copies

Philosophical Clarifications Studies Illustrating the Methodology of Philosophical Elucidation (2019) 4 copies

Autobiography (2007) 4 copies

Reason and religion (2013) 4 copies

Leibniz's Metaphysics of Nature a Group of Essays (1981) 4 copies

Philosophical deliberations (2013) 4 copies

Pragmatism: The Restoration of Its Scientific Roots (2012) 4 copies

Studies in idealism (2005) 4 copies

Cognitive Harmony: The Role of Systemic Harmony in the Constitution of Knowledge (2005) 4 copies

Welfare: The Social Issues in Philosophical Perspective (1972) 4 copies

Studies in Epistemology (American Philosophy) (1975) 4 copies

Epistemetrics (2006) 4 copies

Studies in the History of Arabic Logic (2019) 4 copies

Studies in ethics: Essays (Monograph - American philosophical quarterly ; no. 7) (1973) 4 copies

Ideas in Process: A Study on the Development of Philosophical Concepts (2009) 4 copies

Hypothetical reasoning (Studies in logic and the foundations of mathematics) (1964) 4 copies

The logic of inconsistency : a study in non-standard possible-world semantics and ontology (1979) 4 copies

Cosmos and Logos: Studies in Greek Philosophy (Topics in Ancient Philosophy / Themen der antiken Philosophie, 1) (2005) 3 copies

On the Nature of Philosophy and Other Philosophical Essays (2012) 3 copies

Forbidden Knowledge: And Other Essays on the Philosophy of Cognition (Episteme) (1987) 3 copies

Galen and the syllogism; an examination of the thesis that Galen originated the fourth figure of the syllogism in the light of new data from Arabic sources, including an Arabic… 3 copies

Fairness: Theory & Practice of Distributive Justice (2002) 3 copies

Issues in the Philosophy of Religion (2007) 3 copies

Essays in philosophical analysis (1969) 3 copies

Studies in the philosophy of science (2006) 3 copies

Essais sur les fondements de l'ontologie du procès (2006) 3 copies

Reason and Reality: Realism and Idealism in Pragmatic Perspective (2005) 3 copies

Knowledge at the Boundaries (Logic, Epistemology, and the Unity of Science Book 48) (2020) 3 copies

Philosophical Episodes (2011) 3 copies

Studies in value theory (2006) 3 copies

On Rules and Principles: A Philosophical Study of their Nature and Function (2010) 3 copies

Philosophical progress : and other philosophical studies (2014) 3 copies

Epistemic principles : a primer for the theory of knowledge (2016) 3 copies

Process Philosophical Deliberations (Process Thought) (2006) 3 copies

Plausible Reasoning: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Plausibilistic Inference (1976) 3 copies

Kant's Theory of Knowledge and Reality: A Group of Essays (1983) 2 copies

The development of Arabic logic (2009) 2 copies

Studies in ontology : essays (1978) 2 copies

Epistemic Pragmatism and Other Studies in the Theory of Knowledge (2008) 2 copies

Luck Theory: A Philosophical Introduction to the Mathematics of Luck (Logic, Argumentation & Reasoning Book 20) (2022) 2 copies

Free will an extensive bibliography (2010) 2 copies

Value Matters: Studies In Axiology (2005) 2 copies

The Realm of Facts: Aspects of Philosophical Realism (Epistemic Studies, 39) (2020) 2 copies

Studies in philosophical inquiry (2006) 2 copies

Warum sind wir nicht klüger? : Der evolutionäre Nutzen von Dummheit und Klugheit (1990) 2 copies

Communicative Pragmatism (1998) 2 copies

Scientific Realism a Critical Reappraisal (2012) 2 copies

American philosophical quarterly (1970) 2 copies

Dialectics a classical approach to inquiry (2007) 2 copies

Baffling Phenomena (1990) 2 copies

Minding Matter: And Other Essays in Philosophical Inquiry (2001) 2 copies

Philosophical Explorations (2011) 2 copies

Studies in metaphysical optimalism (2007) 2 copies

American Philosophy Today, and Other Philosophical Studies (1994) 2 copies

Leibniz and cryptography : an account on the occasion of the initial exhibition of the reconstruction of Leibniz's cipher machine (2012) 2 copies

Finitude A Study of Cognitive Limits and Limitations (2010) 2 copies

Studies in Leibniz's cosmology (2007) 2 copies

Studies in metaphilosophy (2006) 2 copies

Studies in cognitive finitude (2006) 2 copies

Inquiry Dynamics (2000) 2 copies

Philosophy of Leibniz 2 copies, 1 review

On certainty and other philosophical essays on cognition (2011) 2 copies

Productive Evolution On Reconciling Evolution with Intelligent Design (2011) 2 copies

Philosophical Textuality Studies on Issues of Discourse in Philosophy (2010) 2 copies

Ethical Considerations: Basic Issues in Moral Philosophy (2014) 1 copy

Public affairs quarterly, Vol 1 no 1, Jan 1987 1 copy

Al-Farabi : An Annotated Bibliography (1962) 1 copy

Reason and Rationality in Natural Science: A Group of Essays (1985) 1 copy

Current Issues In Teleology (1986) 1 copy

Animal conversations: A collection of fables (1994) 1 copy

Philosophy Examined: Metaphilosophy in Pragmatic Perspective (2021) 1 copy

Moral absolutes : an essay on the nature and rationale of morality (1989) 1 copy

Risk Theory Rational Decision in the Face of Chance, Uncertainty, and Risk (2022) 1 copy

Freedom in the World: 1998-1999: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties (1999) 1 copy

Essays in the History of Philosophy (Avebury Series in Philosophy) (1995) 1 copy

Galen and the Syllogism (1966) 1 copy

La racionalidad: Una indagación filosófica sobre la naturaleza y la justificación de la razón (Filosofía - Filosofía Y Ensayo) (Spanish Edition) 1 copy

Sensible Decisions: Issues of Rational Decision in Personal Choice and Public Policy (2003) 1 copy

Scientific Realism: A Critical Reappraisal (The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science) (1987) 1 copy

Studies in logical theory: essays (1968) 1 copy

Al-Kindi: An Annotated Bibliography (Prologue Editions) (1965) 1 copy

Public Concerns (1995) 1 copy

Ethics Matters Ethical Issues in Pragmatic Perspective (2021) 1 copy

Studies in quantitative philosophizing (2010) 1 copy

Axiogenesis an essay in metaphysical optimalism (2010) 1 copy

Cognitive Economy: The Economic Dimension of the Theory of Knowledge (1989) 1 copy

Empirical Inquiry (1982) 1 copy

Studies in moral philosophy 1 copy

The pragmatic vision : themes in philosophical pragmatism (2014) 1 copy

Profitable Speculations (1997) 1 copy

Studies in philosophical anthropology (2006) 1 copy

Cognitive Idealization: On the Nature and Utility of Cognitive Ideals (2003) 1 copy

The Riddle of Existence: An Essay in Idealistic Metaphysics (1984) 1 copy

Being and value and other philosophical essays (2008) 1 copy

Epistemological studies (2009) 1 copy

Studies in the history of logic (2007) 1 copy

Mid-Journey: An Unfinished Autobiography (1983) 1 copy

Epistemic Issues in Pragmatic Perspective (2017) 1 copy

Leibnizian inquiries : a group of essays (1989) 1 copy

Rationality in Pragmatic Perspective (Studies in the History of Philosophy) (2003) 1 copy

Is philosophy dispensable? and other philosophical essays (2007) 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers (1993) — Contributor — 274 copies

The Sheed and Ward Anthology of Catholic Philosophy (A Sheed & Ward Classic) (2005) — Contributor — 34 copies

Philosophical issues; a contemporary introduction (1972) — Contributor — 21 copies

The Critical Approach to Science and Philosophy : In Honor of Karl R. Popper (1964) — Contributor — 19 copies

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Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1928-07-15
Date of death: 2024-01-05
Gender: male
Occupations: professor (philosophy)
Organizations: University of Pittsburgh
Awards and honors: President, American Philosophical Association Eastern Division (1989-1990)
Nationality: USA (naturalized)
Birthplace: Hagen, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany
Place of death: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Associated Place (for map): USA

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17 reviews

tearaway 3,557 reviews

On Leibniz: Expanded Edition by Nicholas Rescher

This collection of articles explores the life of Leibniz as well as his contributions as philosopher and mathematician while struggling as a frustrated courtier. We learn that the logician that invented calculus independently, setting himself at the same level of Newton, gazed onto the rich land of cryptanalysis. There he was excited by the possibilities but unmoved to develop a cryptologic theory. In a way of life I find similar to that revealed in the autobiography of Jean-Jacques show more Rousseau, much of Leibniz’s energy was absorbed in seeking royal patronage. Frustrations with an unmovable imperial bureaucracy caused the self-important Leibniz to react petulantly. Despite such failings, Leibniz also stands on a level with Spinoza and Kant by contributing an organized system as important as theirs to the development of Western philosophy. Rescher’s pieces here explore the development and structure of this system, unique in its mathematical underpinnings.

[See my full review at MAA Reviews] show less

Mar 28, 2025

thcson 677 reviews

A System Of Pragmatic Idealism - Vol. II by Nicholas Rescher

Not quite as interesting as the first volume in this series and it's a bit hard to see where the idealism lies. Nevertheless this book summaries Rescher's moral philosophy well and his argument against cultural relativism in values was very good.

Feb 26, 2011

thcson 677 reviews

The Limits Of Science (The Pittsburgh-Konstanz Series in the Philosophy and History of Science) by Nicholas Rescher

Some excellent arguments here against those who dismiss science and those who glorify it. Lays out a sensible middle path which considers science valid within a limited domain. In Rescher's typical style the arguments are lucid and very informative. Highly recommended especially to scientists.

Apr 19, 2010 (Edited)

thcson 677 reviews

Ignorance: (On the Wider Implications of Deficient Knowledge) by Nicholas Rescher

I've enjoyed other books by Rescher, but I thought this one was a bit off the mark. By restricting his study of ignorance to things which can not be known at all he ends up with too many philosophical platitudes, silly questions without any interesting real-world consequences. In general I was disappointed by his failure to make connections between ignorance and knowledge. On several occasions he also repeats almost word-by-word an argument which he just presented 10 pages ago, which show more indicates that this book was written in haste. show less

Jul 31, 2011

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