Introduction to Philosophy

Stuart Fullerton George

Description

George Stuart Fullerton was a significant figure in early twentieth-century philosophy. He also played a role in incorporating philosophical tenets into the then-nascent field of psychology and helped to organize the American Psychological Association. His An Introduction to Philosophy presents a comprehensive look at early twentieth-century philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Fullerton's own unique brand of realism.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Philosophy

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 mai 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776534555
• Langue: English

Extrait

AN INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
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GEORGE STUART FULLERTON
 
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An Introduction to Philosophy First published in 1915 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-455-5 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-456-2 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface I - INTRODUCTORY Chapter I - The Meaning of the Word "Philosophy" in the Past and in the Present Chapter II - Common Thought, Science, and Reflective Thought II - PROBLEMS TOUCHING THE EXTERNAL WORLD Chapter III - Is there an External World? Chapter IV - Sensations and "Things" Chapter V - Appearances and Realities Chapter VI - Of Space Chapter VII - Of Time III - PROBLEMS TOUCHING THE MIND Chapter VIII - What is the Mind? Chapter IX - Mind and Body Chapter X - How We Know there Are Other Minds Chapter XI - Other Problems of World and Mind IV - SOME TYPES OF PHILOSOPHICAL THEORY Chapter XII - Their Historical Background Chapter XIII - Realism and Idealism Chapter XIV - Monism and Dualism Chapter XV - Rationalism, Empiricism, Criticism, and Critical Empiricism V - THE PHILOSOPHICAL SCIENCES Chapter XVI - Logic Chapter XVII - Psychology Chapter XVIII - Ethics and Aesthetics Chapter XIX - Metaphysics Chapter XX - The Philosophy of Religion Chapter XXI - Philosophy and the Other Sciences VI - ON THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY Chapter XXII - The Value of the Study of Philosophy Chapter XXIII - Why We Should Study the History of Philosophy Chapter XXIV - Some Practical Admonitions Notes Endnotes
Preface
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As there cannot be said to be a beaten path in philosophy, and as"Introductions" to the subject differ widely from one another, it isproper that I should give an indication of the scope of the presentvolume.
It undertakes:—
1. To point out what the word "philosophy" is made to cover in ouruniversities and colleges at the present day, and to show why it isgiven this meaning.
2. To explain the nature of reflective or philosophical thinking, andto show how it differs from common thought and from science.
3. To give a general view of the main problems with which philosophershave felt called upon to deal.
4. To give an account of some of the more important types ofphilosophical doctrine which have arisen out of the consideration ofsuch problems.
5. To indicate the relation of philosophy to the so-calledphilosophical sciences, and to the other sciences.
6. To show, finally, that the study of philosophy is of value to usall, and to give some practical admonitions on spirit and method. Hadthese admonitions been impressed upon me at a time when I was inespecial need of guidance, I feel that they would have spared me nolittle anxiety and confusion of mind. For this reason, I recommendthem to the attention of the reader.
Such is the scope of my book. It aims to tell what philosophy is. Itis not its chief object to advocate a particular type of doctrine. Atthe same time, as it is impossible to treat of the problems ofphilosophy except from some point of view, it will be found that, inChapters III to XI, a doctrine is presented. It is the same as thatpresented much more in detail, and with a greater wealth of reference,in my "System of Metaphysics," which was published a short time ago.In the Notes in the back of this volume, the reader will findreferences to those parts of the larger work which treat of thesubjects more briefly discussed here. It will be helpful to theteacher to keep the larger work on hand, and to use more or less of thematerial there presented as his undergraduate classes discuss thechapters of this one. Other references are also given in the Notes,and it may be profitable to direct the attention of students to them.
The present book has been made as clear and simple as possible, that nounnecessary difficulties may be placed in the path of those who enterupon the thorny road of philosophical reflection. The subjects treatedare deep enough to demand the serious attention of any one; and theyare subjects of fascinating interest. That they are treated simply andclearly does not mean that they are treated superficially. Indeed,when a doctrine is presented in outline and in a brief and simplestatement, its meaning may be more readily apparent than when it istreated more exhaustively. For this reason, I especially recommend,even to those who are well acquainted with philosophy, the account ofthe external world contained in Chapter IV.
For the doctrine I advocate I am inclined to ask especial considerationon the ground that it is, on the whole, a justification of the attitudetaken by the plain man toward the world in which he finds himself. Theexperience of the race is not a thing that we may treat lightly.
Thus, it is maintained that there is a real external world presented inour experience—not a world which we have a right to regard as thesensations or ideas of any mind. It is maintained that we haveevidence that there are minds in certain relations to that world, andthat we can, within certain limits, determine these relations. It ispointed out that the plain man's belief in the activity of his mind andhis notion of the significance of purposes and ends are not withoutjustification. It is indicated that theism is a reasonable doctrine,and it is held that the human will is free in the only proper sense ofthe word "freedom." Throughout it is taken for granted that thephilosopher has no private system of weights and measures, but mustreason as other men reason, and must prove his conclusions in the samesober way.
I have written in hopes that the book may be of use to undergraduatestudents. They are often repelled by philosophy, and I cannot butthink that this is in part due to the dry and abstract form in whichphilosophers have too often seen fit to express their thoughts. Thesame thoughts can be set forth in plain language, and theirsignificance illustrated by a constant reference to experiences whichwe all have—experiences which must serve as the foundation to everytheory of the mind and the world worthy of serious consideration.
But there are many persons who cannot attend formal courses ofinstruction, and who, nevertheless, are interested in philosophy.These, also, I have had in mind; and I have tried to be so clear thatthey could read the work with profit in the absence of a teacher.
Lastly, I invite the more learned, if they have found my "System ofMetaphysics" difficult to understand in any part, to follow the simplestatement contained in the chapters above alluded to, and then toreturn, if they will, to the more bulky volume.
GEORGE STUART FULLERTON.
New York, 1906.
I - INTRODUCTORY
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Chapter I - The Meaning of the Word "Philosophy" in the Past and in the Present
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I must warn the reader at the outset that the title of this chapterseems to promise a great deal more than he will find carried out in thechapter itself. To tell all that philosophy has meant in the past, andall that it means to various classes of men in the present, would be atask of no small magnitude, and one quite beyond the scope of such avolume as this. But it is not impossible to give within small compassa brief indication, at least, of what the word once signified, to showhow its signification has undergone changes, and to point out to whatsort of a discipline or group of disciplines educated men are apt toapply the word, notwithstanding their differences of opinion as to thetruth or falsity of this or that particular doctrine. Why certainsubjects of investigation have come to be grouped together and to beregarded as falling within the province of the philosopher, rather thancertain other subjects, will, I hope, be made clear in the body of thework. Only an indication can be given in this chapter.
1. THE BEGINNINGS OF PHILOSOPHY.—The Greek historian Herodotus(484-424 B.C.) appears to have been the first to use the verb "tophilosophize." He makes Croesus tell Solon how he has heard that he"from a desire of knowledge has, philosophizing, journeyed through manylands." The word "philosophizing" seems to indicate that Solon pursuedknowledge for its own sake, and was what we call an investigator. Asfor the word "philosopher" (etymologically, a lover of wisdom), acertain somewhat unreliable tradition traces it back to Pythagoras(about 582-500 B.C.). As told by Cicero, the story is that, in aconversation with Leon, the ruler of Phlius, in the Peloponnesus, hedescribed himself as a philosopher, and said that his business was aninvestigation into the nature of things.
At any rate, both the words "philosopher" and "philosophy" are freelyused in the writings of the disciples of Socrates (470-399 B.C.), andit is possible that he was the first to make use of them. The seemingmodesty of the title philosopher—for etymologically it is a modestone, though it has managed to gather a very different significationwith the lapse of time—the modesty of the title would naturally appealto a man who claimed so much ignorance, as Socrates; and Platorepresents him as distinguishing between the lover of wisdom and thewise, on the ground that God alone may be called wise. From that dateto this the word "philosopher" has remained with us, and it has meantmany things to many men. But for centuries the philosopher has notbeen simply the investigator, nor has he been simply the lover ofwisdom.
An investigation into the origin of words, however interesting initself, can tell us little of the uses to which words are put afterthey have come into being. If we t