General Introduction; D. Aerts. Acknowledgments. Editorial introduction: World views and the problems of synthesis; H. Van Belle, J. Van der Veken. In search of an integrated view on the whole of reality: introducing the (Worldview) project; J. Van der Veken. Symmetry and symmetry-breaking in the philosophy and thinking of Leo Apostel; H. Van Belle. Why not nothing? L. Apostel. Leo Apostel's world-views program in the perspective of his causal ontology. A critical appraisal; D. Batens, W. Christiaens. `The structures of knowledge, or how many ways may we know?' I. Wallerstein. Discourses of globalization and world views; R. Maier. The game of the biomousa: a view of discovery and creation; D. Aerts. The seven keys of any world view; F. Elders. Buddhism as a part of a global understanding of reality; F. Goetghebeur. Synthesizing four ideals of humanity; T. Koizumi. Kantian metaphysics and cognitive science; H. Clapin. Synthesizing constructivism and critical realism: towards critical pluralism; J. Mingers. Science and the human: complementarity as reconciliation; Y. Ben-Dov. Conditions and features of unity concepts in science; V. Kuznetsov. Beyond `Einstein', `Magritte', and `Quine'; P.L. Peterson. Not even classical mechanics is mechanistic; H.H. von Borzeszkowski, R. Wahsner. The synergetic worldview and its synergetic value; H. Knyazeva. Prospectus for polyscopic modeling; D. Karabeg. Polyscopic study of a basic cultural pattern; D. Karabeg. Turing meets Thoreau. An ecological approach to computer science; D. Siefkes. Towards a `virtual' rationality? F. Campos. The cycle of integration and disintegration applied to Western society: a framework for a fundamental prevention of delinquency; J. Deklerck, A. Depuydt.

This book considers philosophy to be more than mere reflection. Through philosophy, humankind can give meaning to the world. In part, this book re-evaluates the philosophy of Leo Apostel, who dedicated his life to the investigation of the use of philosophy in everyday life. But it is also a presentation of international research carried out along the lines of the worldviews project. The contributions address not only professional philosophers, but also students, teachers, academics and everyone interested in the relationship between philosophy and the world.