The Philosophy of Character [Reprint 2014 ed.] 9780674420649, 9780674427785

Citation preview

THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHARACTER

LONDON : HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHARACTER BY

EDGAR PIERCE, PH.D.

CAMBRIDGE HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1924

COPYRIGHT, 1924 B T HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

PBLNTED AT THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE, MASS., TT.S.A.

PREFACE S O M E years ago I determined to make a psychological study of character. James left the problem of the relation of purpose to bodily movements in a rather unsatisfactory state, and the psychology of the school of Mlinsterberg is still more unintelligible. Even Dr. McDougall's great contributions are in some respects unacceptable to me. Some statement involving different assumptions appeared to me necessary. The present work has therefore grown from the attempt to formulate the relation of purpose to the physical world, including the human body in the physical world. It is in a sense an introduction to a purposive psychology. That the results obtained are not wholly satisfactory it is needless to say; but to me some such statement as I have tried to outline is on the whole the most intelligible. I am firmly convinced that some point of view must be found which shall preserve for psychology the reality of purposive action and shall also give full value to the influence of bodily changes on the flow of our thoughts and in the determination of our acts. In general I have tried to acknowledge my indebtedness to all authors whose ideas I have appropriated. In the scientific part of this book quotations are given, perhaps at too great length, where important scientific conclusions are involved. In the more philosophical part suggestions drawn from many sources have been freely used, sometimes without due recognition. To one philosopher, Mr. F. C. S. Schiller, I am very deeply indebted, but have made slight acknowledgment. Much of my opinion on the nature of reality is due to his writings, especially to his Humanism and Studies in Humanism. To the works of M. Henri Bergson I have made little explicit reference, but not V

vi

PREFACE

from lack of appreciation of their value. I am aware that I owe a great deal to the writings of M. Bergson, especially to his description of nature as a creative process; but with much that he has written, if I understand it, I cannot agree — for example, with his description of instinct and his account of the intellect. To the many authors and publishers who have courteously allowed me to quote from their works I offer my sincere thanks. I am especially indebted to Miss A. F. Rowe for invaluable assistance in preparing the manuscript for the press, and to the Harvard University Press for its hearty coopération.

CONTENTS CHAPTER

I

T H E M E A N I N G OF CHARACTER

3-19

The opportunity of the United States. Philosophy and psychology must aid. Present lack of ideals. Remedy in science of character. General statement of theory of character. Importance of study. Further remarks on general theory. Philosophical basis is idealistic. Aim is to furnish foundation for scientific theory of character.

CHAPTER

II

SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY

20-81

Pluralistic idealism is metaphysics adopted. All science based on metaphysics. Must examine scientific metaphysics. Attempted definition of psychology. Two tendencies: to include whole organism, mind and body; to exclude mind, for mind is held to be (1) indefinable, (2) reducible to other categories. The mechanistic materialistic thesis. General reasons for doubting this. Answer to problem depends on how reality is constituted. Metaphysics must not be inconsistent with science. Its test is pragmatic. Promising approach to metaphysics is through physics.

CHAPTER

HI

T H E CONCEPTS OF SCIENCE

32-45

The desk; its elements and causes. Physical elements; independent of mind. Physical determination defined by Henderson. Result of such definition. Difficulties of applying this to all reality. Reasons for thinking Gibbs's systems apply to all reality; assumptions involved. Does purpose act in the worl