Part I various great human interests have been selected as points of departure. Part II undertaken to furnish the reader with a map of the Part II is due in part to a desire for brevity, but chiefly to the hope Part III sought to present the tradition of Part II offers a general classification of philosophical Part III sought to emphasize the point of view, or the PART I<p> APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. PART II<p> THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. PART III<p> SYSTEMS OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER XII. PART I<p> APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V PART II<p> THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF CHAPTER VI Part V, Proposition XLII. Translation by 1 Part I, Fraser's CHAPTER VII PART III<p> SYSTEMS OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER VIII Part IV, § ccii. CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X Part I. Translation by Elwes, p. 45. Part IV. Translation by Elwes, p. 243. CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XII CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTERS CHAPTER V Part II. CHAPTERS CHAPTER VIII Part I. Part I. (On the religious, CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI Approach to Philosophy, by Ralph Barton Perry Project Gutenberg's The Approach to Philosophy, by Ralph Barton Perry This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: The Approach to Philosophy Author: Ralph Barton Perry Release Date: April 19, 2008 [EBook #25110] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE APPROACH TO PHILOSOPHY *** Produced by Stephen Hope, Fox in the Stars, Lisa Reigel, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Notes: Some typographical errors have been corrected. A complete list follows the text. Words in Greek in the original are transliterated and placed between +plus signs+. Words italicized in the original are surrounded by underscores. THE APPROACH TO PHILOSOPHY Approach to Philosophy, by Ralph Barton Perry 2 BY PROF. RALPH BARTON PERRY THE FREE MAN AND THE SOLDIER THE MORAL ECONOMY THE APPROACH TO PHILOSOPHY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS THE APPROACH TO PHILOSOPHY BY RALPH BARTON PERRY, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Printed in the United States of America F THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO MY FATHER AS A TOKEN OF MY LOVE AND ESTEEM PREFACE In an essay on "The Problem of Philosophy at the Present Time," Professor Edward Caird says that "philosophy is not a first venture into a new field of thought, but the rethinking of a secular and religious consciousness which has been developed, in the main, independently of philosophy."[vii:A] If there be any inspiration and originality in this book, they are due to my great desire that philosophy should appear in its vital relations to more familiar experiences. If philosophy is, as is commonly assumed, appropriate to a phase in the development of every individual, it should grow out of interests to which he is already alive. And if the great philosophers are indeed never dead, this fact should manifest itself in their classic or historical representation of a perennial outlook upon the world. I am not seeking to attach to philosophy a fictitious liveliness, wherewith to insinuate it into the good graces of the student. I hope rather to be true to the meaning of philosophy. For there is that in its stand-point and its problem which makes it universally significant entirely apart from dialectic and erudition. These are derived interests, indispensable to the scholar, but quite separable from that modicum of philosophy which helps to make the man. The present book is written for the sake of elucidating the inevitable philosophy. It seeks to make the reader more solicitously aware of the philosophy that is in him, or to provoke him to philosophy in his own interests. To this end I have sacrificed all else to the task of mediating between the tradition and technicalities of the academic discipline and the more common terms of life. The purpose of the book will in part account for those shortcomings that immediately reveal themselves to the eye of the scholar. In Part I various great human interests have been selected as points of departure. Part I various great human interests have been selected as points of departure. 3 I have sought to introduce the general stand-point and problem of philosophy through its implication in practical life, poetry, religion, and science. But in so doing it has been necessary for me to deal shortly with topics of great independent importance, and so risk the disfavor of those better skilled in these several matters. This is evidently true of the chapter which deals with natural science. But the problem which I there faced differed radically from those of the foregoing chapters, and the method of treatment is correspondingly different. In the case of natural science one has to deal with a body of knowledge which is frequently regarded as the only knowledge. To write a chapter about science from a philosophical stand-point is, in the present state of opinion, to undertake a polemic against exclusive naturalism, an attitude which is itself philosophical, and as such is well known in the history of philosophy as positivism or agnosticism. I have avoided the polemical spirit and method so far as possible, but have, nevertheless, here taken sides against a definite philosophical position. This chapter, together with the Conclusion, is therefore an exception to the purely introductory and expository representation which I have, on the whole, sought to give. The relatively great space accorded to the discussion of religion is, in my own belief, fair to the general interest in this topic, and to the intrinsic significance of its relation to philosophy. I have in Part II undertaken to furnish the reader with a map of the country to which he has been led. To this end I have attempted a brief survey of the entire programme of philosophy. An accurate and full account of philosophical terms can be found in such books as Külpe's "Introduction to Philosophy" and Baldwin's "Dictionary of Philosophy," and an attempt to emulate their thoroughness would be superfluous, even if it were conformable to the general spirit of this book. The scope of Part II is due in part to a desire for brevity, but chiefly to the hope of furnishing an epitome that shall follow the course of the natural and historical differentiation of the general philosophical problem. Finally, I have in Part III sought to present the tradition of philosophy in the form of general types. My purpose in undertaking so difficult a task is to acquaint the reader with philosophy in the concrete; to show how certain underlying principles may determine the whole circle of philosophical ideas, and give them unity and distinctive flavor. Part II offers a general classification of philosophical problems and conceptions independently of any special point of view. But I have in Part III sought to emphasize the point of view, or the internal consistency that makes a system of philosophy out of certain answers to the special problems of philosophy. In such a division into types, lines are of necessity drawn too sharply. There will be many historical philosophies that refuse to fit, and many possibilities unprovided for. I must leave it to the individual reader to overcome this abstractness through his own reflection upon the intermediate and variant Part II undertaken to furnish the reader with a map of the 4 stand-points. Although the order is on the whole that of progressive complexity, I have sought to treat each chapter with independence enough to make it possible for it to be read separately; and I have provided a carefully selected bibliography in the hope that this book may serve as a stimulus and guide to the reading of other books. The earlier chapters have already appeared as articles: Chapter I in the International Journal of Ethics, Vol. XIII, No. 4; Chapter II in the Philosophical Review, Vol. XI, No. 6; Chapter III in the Monist, Vol. XIV, No. 5; Chapter IV in the International Journal of Ethics, Vol. XV, No. 1; and some paragraphs of Chapter V in the Journal of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific Methods, Vol. I, No. 7. I am indebted to the editors of these periodicals for permission to reprint with minor changes. In the writing of this, my first book, I have been often reminded that a higher critic, skilled in the study of internal evidence, could probably trace all of its ideas to suggestions that have come to me from my teachers and colleagues of the Department of Philosophy in Harvard University. I have unscrupulously forgotten what of their definite ideas I have adapted to my own use, but not that I received from them the major portion of my original philosophical capital. I am especially indebted to Professor William James for the inspiration and resources which I have received from his instruction and personal friendship. RALPH BARTON PERRY. CAMBRIDGE, March, 1905. FOOTNOTES: [vii:A] Edw. Caird: Literature and Philosophy, Vol. I, p. 207. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF PHILOSOPHY PAGE Part III sought to emphasize the point of view, or the 5 CHAPTER I. THE PRACTICAL MAN AND THE PHILOSOPHER 3 § 1. Is Philosophy a Merely Academic Interest? 3 § 2. Life as a Starting-point for Thought 4 § 3. The Practical Knowledge of Means 8 § 4. The Practical Knowledge of the End or Purpose 10 § 5. The Philosophy of the Devotee, the Man of Affairs, and the Voluptuary 12 § 6. The Adoption of Purposes and the Philosophy of Life 17 CHAPTER I. 6 CHAPTER II. POETRY AND PHILOSOPHY 24 § 7. Who is the Philosopher-Poet? 24 § 8. Poetry as Appreciation 25 § 9. Sincerity in Poetry. Whitman 27 § 10. Constructive Knowledge in Poetry. Shakespeare 30 § 11. Philosophy in Poetry. The World-view. Omar Khayyam 36 § 12. Wordsworth 38 § 13. Dante 42 § 14. The Difference between Poetry and Philosophy 48 CHAPTER II. 7 CHAPTER III. THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 53 § 15. The Possibility of Defining Religion 53 § 16. The Profitableness of Defining Religion 54 § 17. The True Method of Defining Religion 56 § 18. Religion as Belief 59 § 19. Religion as Belief in a Disposition or Attitude 62 § 20. Religion as Belief in the Disposition of the Residual Environment, or Universe 64 § 21. Examples of Religious Belief 66 § 22. Typical Religious Phenomena. Conversion 69 § 23. Piety 72 § 24. Religious Instruments, Symbolism, and Modes of Conveyance 74 § 25. Historical Types of Religion. Primitive Religions 77 § 26. Buddhism 78 § 27. Critical Religion 79 CHAPTER III. 8 CHAPTER IV. THE PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RELIGION 82 § 28. Résumé of Psychology of Religion 82 § 29. Religion Means to be True 82 § 30. Religion Means to be Practically True. God is a Disposition from which Consequences May Rationally be Expected 85 § 31. Historical Examples of Religious Truth and Error. The Religion of Baal 88 § 32. Greek Religion 89 § 33. Judaism and Christianity 92 § 34. The Cognitive Factor in Religion 96 § 35. The Place of Imagination in Religion 97 § 36. The Special Functions of the Religious Imagination 101 § 37. The Relation between Imagination and Truth in Religion 105 § 38. The Philosophy Implied in Religion and in Religions 108 CHAPTER IV. 9 CHAPTER V. NATURAL SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY 114 § 39. The True Relations of Philosophy and Science. Misconceptions and Antagonisms 114 § 40. The Spheres of Philosophy and Science 117 § 41. The Procedure of a Philosophy of Science 120 § 42. The Origin of the Scientific Interest 123 § 43. Skill as Free 123 § 44. Skill as Social 126 § 45. Science for Accommodation and Construction 127 § 46. Method and Fundamental Conceptions of Natural Science. The Descriptive Method 128 § 47. Space, Time, and Prediction 130 § 48. The Quantitative Method 132 § 49. The General Development of Science 134 § 50. The Determination of the Limits of Natural Science 135 § 51. Natural Science is Abstract 136 § 52. The Meaning of Abstractness in Truth 139 § 53. But Scientific Truth is Valid for Reality 142 § 54. Relative Practical Value of Science and Philosophy 143 PART II THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER V. 10 [...]... leads him from the summit of purgatory into the heaven of heavens, and even to the eternal light; so there is added to the mere human, intellectual, and moral resources of the soul, the sustaining power of the divine grace, the illuminating power of divine truth, and the transforming power of divine love Through the aid of this higher wisdom, the journey of life becomes the way to God Thus the allegorical... Pluralistic Philosophy Purity of the Good 420 § 215 The Incentive to Goodness 422 § 216 The Justification of Faith 423 § 217 The Worship and Service of God 425 § 218 The Philosopher and the Standards of the Market-Place 425 § 219 The Secularism of the Present Age 427 § 220 The Value of Contemplation for Life 428 BIBLIOGRAPHY 431 INDEX 441 PART I APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF PHILOSOPHY CHAPTER I 18 CHAPTER I THE. .. convinced of the inner and essential character of the universe Some of the alternatives are matters of every-day thought and speech One cannot tell the simplest story of human life without disclosing them To live the human life means to pursue ideals, that is, to have a thing in mind, and then to try to accomplish it Here is one kind of reality and power The planetary system, on the other hand, does... Curtailment of Philosophy in the Age of the Sophists 319 § 157 Socrates and the Self-criticism of the Philosopher 321 § 158 Socrates's Self-criticism a Prophecy of Truth 323 § 159 The Historical Preparation for Plato 324 § 160 Platonism: Reality as the Absolute Ideal or Good 326 § 161 The Progression of Experience toward God 329 § 162 Aristotle's Hierarchy of Substances in Relation to Platonism 332 § 163 The. .. itself philosophy, thought has only recognized the definiteness and earnestness of its largest task Philosophy is still thought about life, representing but the deepening and broadening of the common practical thoughtfulness We who began together at the starting-point of life, have now entered together the haven of philosophy It is not a final haven, but only the point of departure for the field of philosophy. .. adopted it for his vocation; if neither, it has been present as an undertone throughout the rendering of his more inevitable life He will recognize it when it is named as the desire to do the will of God, or to have as good a time as possible, or to make other people as happy as possible, or to be equal to his responsibilities, or to fulfil the expectation of his mother, or to be distinguished, wealthy,... himself in the form of poetry The philosophical point of view is that from which the universe is comprehended in its totality The wisdom of the philosopher is the knowledge of each through the knowledge of all Wherein, then, does the poet, when possessed of such wisdom, differ from the philosopher proper? To this question one can give readily enough the general answer, that the difference lies in the mode... smearing the stone with butter that his god may be pleased, to the woman crying to the forest god for her sick child, to the boy before his monks learning to be good No matter where you go, no matter what the faith is called, if you have the hearing ear, if your heart is in unison with the heart of the world, you will hear always the same song."[59:5] [Sidenote: Religion as Belief.] § 18 The general... common to me and to my neighbor, and presupposed in our collective undertakings This reduction of religion to the type of the believing state should thus provide us with an answer to that old and fundamental question concerning the relative priority of faith and works The test of the faith is in the works, and the works are religious in so far as they are the expression of the faith Religion is not the. .. from chaos to cosmos For religion its significance lies in the idea of original and far-reaching power rather than in the idea of totality But that which is at first only "beyond," is practically the same object as that which comes in the development of thought to be conceived as the "world" or the "universe." We may therefore use these latter terms to indicate the object of religion, until the treatment . underscores. THE APPROACH TO PHILOSOPHY Approach to Philosophy, by Ralph Barton Perry 2 BY PROF. RALPH BARTON PERRY THE FREE MAN AND THE SOLDIER THE MORAL ECONOMY THE. fictitious liveliness, wherewith to insinuate it into the good graces of the student. I hope rather to be true to the meaning of philosophy. For there is that in its