Closure: A Short History of Everything
Encyclopedia
Closure: A Story of Everything is a philosophical description of the world
put forward by Hilary Lawson
. It is an attempt to provide an account that overcomes the problems of self-reference inherent in other philosoph
ical systems. The theory of closure provides a new vocabulary with which to do this. In so doing it manages to provide a way of holding the world without need for a recourse to truth.
The resulting framework offers new approaches to the central questions of contemporary philosophy: the character of language and meaning, of the individual
and consciousness
, of truth and reality. It has consequences for the understanding of the science
s and also accounts for the need and desire for both art and religion. It provides a new description of the organisation of society. The theory of 'Closure' is self-referential with the consequence that the theory of closure does not offer final answers but a temporary resting place.
The book has been controversial. Its followers have heralded it as
significant step forward. Radical theologian, Don Cuppitt, Fellow of
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, described Closure as 'perhaps the first
non-realist metaphysics'. Alan Montefiore, Emeritus Fellow, Balliol College, Oxford
, said of the work 'Hilary Lawson shows himself to be a
latter day metaphysician on the grand scale ... a quite astonishing
achievement' John Ziman, a former editor of Nature, said of the book
'The closure paradigm could prove remarkably versatile and useful ... it
will surely become a valuable intellectual resource'. Others, such as
Stephen Mulhall in the Times Literary Supplement, have been critical
arguing that its critique of contemporary philosophy is flawed and the
new vocabulary it proposes unnecessary.
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
put forward by Hilary Lawson
Hilary Lawson
Hilary Lawson is a philosopher, filmmaker, and video artist. Known for his theory of Closure, he is Director of the Institute of Art and Ideas, founder of the Artscape Project and a director of TVF Media.-Biography:...
. It is an attempt to provide an account that overcomes the problems of self-reference inherent in other philosoph
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
ical systems. The theory of closure provides a new vocabulary with which to do this. In so doing it manages to provide a way of holding the world without need for a recourse to truth.
The resulting framework offers new approaches to the central questions of contemporary philosophy: the character of language and meaning, of the individual
Individual
An individual is a person or any specific object or thing in a collection. Individuality is the state or quality of being an individual; a person separate from other persons and possessing his or her own needs, goals, and desires. Being self expressive...
and consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
, of truth and reality. It has consequences for the understanding of the science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
s and also accounts for the need and desire for both art and religion. It provides a new description of the organisation of society. The theory of 'Closure' is self-referential with the consequence that the theory of closure does not offer final answers but a temporary resting place.
The book has been controversial. Its followers have heralded it as
significant step forward. Radical theologian, Don Cuppitt, Fellow of
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, described Closure as 'perhaps the first
non-realist metaphysics'. Alan Montefiore, Emeritus Fellow, Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, said of the work 'Hilary Lawson shows himself to be a
latter day metaphysician on the grand scale ... a quite astonishing
achievement' John Ziman, a former editor of Nature, said of the book
'The closure paradigm could prove remarkably versatile and useful ... it
will surely become a valuable intellectual resource'. Others, such as
Stephen Mulhall in the Times Literary Supplement, have been critical
arguing that its critique of contemporary philosophy is flawed and the
new vocabulary it proposes unnecessary.
External links
- 8min video Hilary Lawson discusses the concept of closure during The Failure of Reason, The Institute of Art and Ideas January 2010