more from William James

Single Idea 22650

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / a. Rationality]

Full Idea

Can that which is the ground of rationality in all else be itself properly called rational?

Gist of Idea

How can the ground of rationality be itself rational?

Source

William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.25)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.25


A Reaction

This is the perennial problem in deciding grounds, and in deciding what to treat as primitive. The stoics see the whole of nature as rational. Cf how can the ground of what is physical be itself physical?

Related Idea

Idea 21393 Stoics believed that rational capacity in man (logos) is embodied in the universe [Stoic school, by Long]