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A Study in Realism

John Laird

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Description:An excerpt of a review from "The Philosophical Review," Volume 30: THIS book, which deals exclusively with the problem of knowledge, aims to prove that there is nothing in connection with the process of knowing which invalidates knowledge. The author is a realist, and maintains as his thesis that we know things as they "really are." This thesis, so far as I can discover, is not supported by any affirmative argument, but is regarded as having been established in the event that the grounds which are commonly alleged for doubting the validity of knowledge can be shown to be false. The argument, therefore, pursues an indirect course, presenting as proof of its own thesis the disproof of that of its opponent There is, then, no positive analysis of the phrase, "things as they really are." This concept, together with others basic to the argument, is adopted from popular and scientific thought, and is assumed to be so definite and unquestionable in meaning as to render investigation entirely superfluous. Thus the author overlooks the opportunity of making a metaphysical analysis at a crucial point, and spends his energy in an attempt to disprove subjectivism in philosophy. Mr. Laird examines two main theses of the subjectivist, (1) that mental objects intervene between the mind and things, and (2) that the mind in the process of knowing objects contributes in part its own nature to them. In case either thesis be true, with a change in the process of knowing comes also a corresponding change in the thing known. But according to Mr. Laird, each thing has its existence wholly within itself. If it is to be known as it really is, it must be known by a process absolutely external to it: it must undergo no change. Thus in this instance realism is built upon the postulate, whatever is, is, -a postulate which is uncriticized, and which, although true, is so abstract as to be, in this and probably in every case, entirely barren of positive accomplishment. The position of the author on the first point is that there are no mental objects to come between the mind and things. He seems to regard this assertion as now almost a commonplace; hence there is no need to dwell longer upon the subject than to say that his interpretation of perception, memory and imagery, is everywhere consistent with this position. In dealing with the second point, e.g., that the mind contributes of its own nature in knowing, Mr. Laird is evidently on a fresh trail, which he follows with the eagerness of a discoverer. The essential feature of his discovery is that a distinction should be drawn between the processes of the mind in constructing and those in finding. He does not deny that the mind constructs many things known-fancies, for instance-but he contends that when it does this it bears an entirely different relation to its objects from when it knows them. In mere knowing there is no constructing. It is accordingly the great contention of the book that in knowing we are simply 'finding' or 'discovering' the 'given.' Find, discover, given, -these are the key-words of the discussion. "For 'constructing, ' where possible read 'finding'" enjoins Mr. Laird near the close of his argument (p. 201). In this connection he says, "It must be admitted that the contrast between knowledge as making and knowledge as finding, seems peculiarly hollow on its first aspect.... Yet realists must admit, I think, that this curt notice [the one quoted above] is one of the most compendious and one of the least inadequate ways of putting their main contention.... The consequences of this theoretical difference are very important indeed.... If knowledge is only fabricating, it is clearly idle to conjecture whether its fabric corresponds to any reality other than itself....We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with A Study in Realism. To get started finding A Study in Realism, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Pages: 240

Format: PDF, EPUB & Kindle Edition

Publisher: Createspace

Release: 2013

ISBN: 1494411989

Description: An excerpt of a review from "The Philosophical Review," Volume 30: THIS book, which deals exclusively with the problem of knowledge, aims to prove that there is nothing in connection with the process of knowing which invalidates knowledge. The author is a realist, and maintains as his thesis that we know things as they "really are." This thesis, so far as I can discover, is not supported by any affirmative argument, but is regarded as having been established in the event that the grounds which are commonly alleged for doubting the validity of knowledge can be shown to be false. The argument, therefore, pursues an indirect course, presenting as proof of its own thesis the disproof of that of its opponent There is, then, no positive analysis of the phrase, "things as they really are." This concept, together with others basic to the argument, is adopted from popular and scientific thought, and is assumed to be so definite and unquestionable in meaning as to render investigation entirely superfluous. Thus the author overlooks the opportunity of making a metaphysical analysis at a crucial point, and spends his energy in an attempt to disprove subjectivism in philosophy. Mr. Laird examines two main theses of the subjectivist, (1) that mental objects intervene between the mind and things, and (2) that the mind in the process of knowing objects contributes in part its own nature to them. In case either thesis be true, with a change in the process of knowing comes also a corresponding change in the thing known. But according to Mr. Laird, each thing has its existence wholly within itself. If it is to be known as it really is, it must be known by a process absolutely external to it: it must undergo no change. Thus in this instance realism is built upon the postulate, whatever is, is, -a postulate which is uncriticized, and which, although true, is so abstract as to be, in this and probably in every case, entirely barren of positive accomplishment. The position of the author on the first point is that there are no mental objects to come between the mind and things. He seems to regard this assertion as now almost a commonplace; hence there is no need to dwell longer upon the subject than to say that his interpretation of perception, memory and imagery, is everywhere consistent with this position. In dealing with the second point, e.g., that the mind contributes of its own nature in knowing, Mr. Laird is evidently on a fresh trail, which he follows with the eagerness of a discoverer. The essential feature of his discovery is that a distinction should be drawn between the processes of the mind in constructing and those in finding. He does not deny that the mind constructs many things known-fancies, for instance-but he contends that when it does this it bears an entirely different relation to its objects from when it knows them. In mere knowing there is no constructing. It is accordingly the great contention of the book that in knowing we are simply 'finding' or 'discovering' the 'given.' Find, discover, given, -these are the key-words of the discussion. "For 'constructing, ' where possible read 'finding'" enjoins Mr. Laird near the close of his argument (p. 201). In this connection he says, "It must be admitted that the contrast between knowledge as making and knowledge as finding, seems peculiarly hollow on its first aspect.... Yet realists must admit, I think, that this curt notice [the one quoted above] is one of the most compendious and one of the least inadequate ways of putting their main contention.... The consequences of this theoretical difference are very important indeed.... If knowledge is only fabricating, it is clearly idle to conjecture whether its fabric corresponds to any reality other than itself....We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with A Study in Realism. To get started finding A Study in Realism, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

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