Appearance and Reality: A Metaphysical EssaySwan Sonnenschein, 1899 - 628 pages "I have described the following work as an essay in metaphysics. Neither in form nor extent does it carry out the idea of a system. Its subject indeed is central enough to justify the exhaustive treatment of every problem. But what I have done is incomplete, and what has been left undone has often been omitted arbitrarily. The book is a more or less desultory handling of perhaps the chief questions in metaphysics. In the main I have accomplished all that lay within my compass. This volume is meant to be a critical discussion of first principles, and its object is to stimulate enquiry and doubt. To originality in any other sense it makes no claim. If the reader finds that on any points he has been led once more to reflect, I shall not have failed, so far as I can, to be original. But I should add that my book is not intended for the beginner. Its language in general I hope is not over-technical, but I have sometimes used terms intelligible only to the student. The index supplied is not an index but a mere collection of certain references. My book does not design to be permanent, and will be satisfied to be negative, so long as that word implies an attitude of active questioning. The chief need of English philosophy is, I think, a sceptical study of first principles, and I do not know of any work which seems to meet this need sufficiently. By scepticism is not meant doubt about or disbelief in some tenet or tenets. I understand by it an attempt to become aware of and to doubt all preconceptions. Such scepticism is the result only of labour and education, but it is a training which cannot with impunity be neglected. And I know no reason why the English mind, if it would but subject itself to this discipline, should not in our day produce a rational system of first principles. If I have helped to forward this result, then, whatever form it may take, my ambition will be satisfied"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). |
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Absol Absolute abstraction actual adjective admit æsthetic ance appearance aspect assert attempt become body causation certainly Chapter character conclusion connection consists contradiction deny desire difference distinction diversity doctrine doubt elements enquire error essence essential existence experience external F. H. BRADLEY fact fall false feeling finite further hand harmony Hedonism hence idea ideal identity Identity of Indiscernibles implies impossible inconsistent intellect J. S. Mill knowledge Law of Contradiction less mean merely metaphysics mind monad moral nature not-self object once pain pass perceive perception perfection perhaps pheno phenomena physical pleasure positive possess possible predicate present principle psychical qualities question reality regard relation religion result secondary qualities seems seen sense sentience side Solipsism somehow soul space stand suppose surely taken temporal thing Thing-in-itself thought tion transcend true truth unity universe urge whole wholly