Most Popular Books by Kenneth M. Sayre

Philosopher Kenneth Sayre explores the question of why Plato wrote in dialogue form and offers analyses of key dialogues such as the Meno, the Symposium, and the Theaetetus.--Adapted from publisher description.

Adventures in Philosophy at Notre Dame recounts the fascinating history of the University of Notre Dame''s Department of Philosophy, chronicling the challenges, difficulties, and tensions that accompanied its transition from an obscure outpost of scholasticism in the 1940s into one of the more distinguished philosophy departments in the world today. Its author, Kenneth Sayre, who has been a faculty member for over five decades, focuses on the people of the department, describing what they were like, how they got along with each other, and how their personal predilections and ambitions affected the affairs of the department overall. The book follows the department’s transition from its early Thomism to the philosophical pluralism of the 1970s, then traces its drift from pluralism to what Sayre terms "professionalism,” resulting in what some perceive as a severance from its Catholic roots by the turn of the century. Each chapter includes an extensive biography of an especially prominent department member, along with biographical sketches of other philosophers arriving during the period it covers. Central to the story overall are the charismatic Irishmen Ernan McMullin and Ralph McInerny, whose interaction dominated affairs in the department in the 1960s and 1970s, and who continued to play major roles in the following decades. Philosophers throughout the English-speaking world will find Adventures in Philosophy at Notre Dame essential reading. The book will also appeal to readers interested in the history of the University of Notre Dame and of American higher education generally.

At the beginning of his Metaphysics, Aristotle attributed several strange-sounding theses to Plato. Generations of Plato scholars have assumed that these could not be found in the dialogues. In heated arguments, they have debated the significance of these claims, some arguing that they constituted an ''unwritten teaching'' and others maintaining that Aristotle was mistaken in attributing them to Plato. In a prior book-length study on Plato''s late ontology, Kenneth M. Sayre demonstrated that, despite differences in terminology, these claims correspond to themes developed by Plato in the Parmenides and the Philebus. In this book, he shows how this correspondence can be extended to key, but previously obscure, passages in the Statesman. He also examines the interpretative consequences for other sections of that dialogue, particularly those concerned with the practice of dialectical inquiry.

Prior to the publication of Plato''s Later Ontology in 1983, there was general agreement among Plato scholars that the theses attributed to Plato in Book A of Aristotle''s Metaphysics can not be found in the dialogues. Plato''s Late Ontology presented a textually based argument that in fact these theses appear both in the Philebus and in the second part of the Parmenides. The pivotal point of the argument is a number of synonyms for the expressions used by Aristotle in reporting Plato''s views, found in the Greek commentators on Aristotle writing during the 3rd to the 5th Century A.D. These synonyms are also used by Plato himself in discussing the theses in question. The present book is a reprint of Plato''s Late Ontology along with a recent article showing that a subset of these theses can also be found in the section of measurement appearing in the middle of the Statesman. The argument to this effect is an extension of that in Plato''s Late Ontology, but is supported by a much expanded list of synonyms from the Greek Commentators. The appearance of the theses in question in the Statesman augments the original argument for their presence in the Parmenides and the Philebus.

Parmenides is generally recognized as Plato''s most difficult dialogue. This work argues that the key to unlocking the puzzles of Parmenides II lies in the proper interpretive pairing of the eight hypotheses under which its arguments are grouped.

John Paul II''s Faith and Reason was written against a background of Catholic scholarship focusing notably on the New Testament, St. Augustine''s Confessions, St. Thomas''s De Veritate, and the encyclicals of various pre-Vatican II popes. A detailed, textually based critique of these early sources reveals inconsistencies and conceptual errors that are shown to carry over into Faith and Reason. John Paul II''s treatment of reason, in particular, turns out to be aberrant to the point of incoherence. It is inconceivable how this reason could join with faith in a way that lifts the human spirit to a contemplation of truth, as stated in the Preface of the encyclical. There is another sense of reason, however, which demonstrably is capable of cooperating with faith to achieve this effect. This reason is free from the fetters of Neo-Scholasticism that keep John Paul II''s reason grounded. The present study joins forces with the encyclical with a detailed example of this other sense of reason in action. In this example, new truths come to light regarding the complex relation between the first and the second great commandments.

Contesting much contemporary epistemology and cognitive science, noted philosopher Kenneth M. Sayre argues that, while some cognitive attitudes such as believing take propositions as objects, there are many others (knowing, hoping, fearing, etc.) whose objects are instead states of affairs.

Discusses the philosophy behind artificial intelligence, with special emphasis on pattern recognition.

Applying the analytical methods of modern logic to problems of interpretation in Plato, the author traces the development of Plato''s analytic method from the crude form expressed in the Phaedo to the considerably more sophisticated and powerful techniques practiced in the later methodological dialogues.

Sayre argues that the only way to resolve our current environmental crisis is to reduce our energy consumption to a level where the entropy produced no longer exceeds the biosphere''s ability to dispose of it.

A model is presented whereby the mutual attrition of 2 forces in combat can be studied under interdependent conditions. Interaction of the 2 forces is simulated by a set of equations which make the attrition rate of one a function of the numbers, firepower, and disposition of the other. Moment by moment progress of the battle under a given set of conditions is determined on a digital computer. The model is intended primarily to aid in the evaluation of the relative importance of combat capabilities not all of which can be maximized simultaneously. Construction of the model is in 3 stages. In the basic model the attrition equations are explained and illustrated. Each force is composed of units of 3 types, the numbers and characteristics of which can be specified according to the demands of a particular problem. In the dynamic model provisions are introduced for moving units of either force from position to position to seek out the most advantageous deployment of those units in regard to their differing mobility and combat capabilities in different types of terrain. In the controlled degradation model means are provided for varying systematically the accuracy and completeness of both intelligence and command communications. (Author).