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Reconstruction in Philosophy

by: Dewey, John

Reconstruction in Philosophy

by: Dewey, John

ISBN 13:
9780486434384
ISBN 10:
0486434389
Edition: Large
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 06/11/2004
Publisher: Dover Publications

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Summary

Written shortly after the shattering effects of World War I, this volume offers an insightful introduction to the concept of pragmatic humanism. Dewey presents persuasive arguments against traditional philosophical constructs, suggesting their basis in self-justification. He proposes, instead, an examination of core values in terms of their ultimate effects on the self and others.

I CHANGING CONCEPTIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

(15)

Origin of philosophy in desire and imagination.

Influence of community traditions and authority.

Simultaneous development of matter-of-fact knowledge.

Incongruity and conflict of the two types.

Respective values of each type....

Classic philosophies

(i) compensatory,

(ii) dialectically formal, and

(iii) concerned with "superior" Reality.

Contemporary thinking accepts primacy of matter-of-fact knowledge and assigns to philosophy a social function rather than that of absolute knowledge.

II SOME HISTORICAL FACTORS IN PHILOSOPHICAL RECONSTRUCTION

(15)

Francis Bacon exemplifies the newer spirit....

He conceived knowledge as power.

As dependent upon organized cooperative research....

As tested by promotion of social progress.

The new thought reflected actual social changes, industrial, political, religious....

The new idealism.

III THE SCIENTIFIC FACTOR IN RECONSTRUCTION OF PHILOSOPHY

(13)

Science has revolutionized our conception of Nature.

Philosophy has to be transformed because it no longer depends upon a science which accepts a closed, finite world.

Or, fixed species.

Or, superiority or rest to change and motion.

Contrast of feudal with democratic conceptions.

Elimination of final causes.

Mechanical science and the possibility of control of nature.

Respect for matter.

New temper of imagination.

Influence thus far technical rather than human and moral.

IV CHANGED CONCEPTIONS OF EXPERIENCE AND REASON

(15)

Traditional conception of nature of experience.

Limits of ancient civilization.

Effect of classic idea on modern empiricism.

Why a different conception is now possible.

Psychological change emphasizes vital factor using environment.

Effect upon traditional ideas of sensation and knowledge.

Factor of organization.

Socially, experience is now more inventive and regulative....

Corresponding change in idea of Reason.

Intelligence is hypothetical and inventive.

Weakness of historic Rationalism.

Kantianism.

Contrast of German and British philosophies.

Reconstruction of empirical liberalism.

V CHANGED CONCEPTIONS OF THE IDEAL AND THE REAL

(17)

Idealization rooted in aversion to the disagreeable....

This fact has affected philosophy....

True reality is ideal, and hence changeless, complete.

Hence contemplative knowledge is higher than experimental.

Contrast with the modem practise of knowledge....

Significance of change....

The actual or realistic signifies conditions effecting change....

Ideals become methods rather than goals.

Illustration from elimination of distance.

Change in conception of philosophy....

The significant problems for philosophy....

Social understanding and conciliation.

The practical problem of real and ideal.

VI THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION

(16)

Present confusion as to logic.

Logic is regulative and normative because empirical.

Illustration from mathematics.

Origin of thinking in conflicts.

Confrontation with fact.

Response by anticipation or prediction.

Importance of hypotheses.

Impartial inquiry.

Importance of deductive function.

Organization and classification.

Nature of truth.

Truth is adverbial, not a thing.

VII RECONSTRUCTION IN MORAL CONCEPTIONS

(15)

Common factor in traditional theories.

Every moral situation unique.

Supremacy of the specific or individualized case.

Fallacy of general ends.

Worth of generalization of ends and rules is intellectual.

Harmfulness of division of goods into intrinsic and instrumental.

Into natural and moral.

Moral worth of natural science.

Importance of discovery in morals.

Abolishing Phariseeism....

Growth as the end.

Optimism and pessimism.

Conception of happiness.

Criticism of utilitarianism.

All life moral in so far as educative.

VIII RECONSTRUCTION AS AFFECTING SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

107

(17)

Defects of current logic of social thought.

Neglect of specific situations.

Defects of organic concept of society.

Evils of notion of fixed self or individual.

Doctrine of interests.

Moral and institutional reform.

Moral test of social institutions.

Social pluralism.

Political monism, dogma of National State.

Primacy of associations.

International humanism.

Organization a subordinate conception.

Freedom and democracy.

Intellectual reconstruction when habitual will affect imagination and hence poetry and religion.

INDEX

124

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Reconstruction in Philosophy

Reconstruction in Philosophy

9780486434384

0486434389

Summary

Table of Contents

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