Single Idea 18988

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism]

Full Idea

Behind the bare phenomenal facts, as my tough-minded old friend Chauncey Wright, the great Harvard empiricist of my youth, used to say, there is nothing.

Clarification

Wright was a forgotten founder of Pragmatism

Gist of Idea

Behind the bare phenomenal facts there is nothing

Source

Chauncey Wright (talk [1870]), quoted by William James - Pragmatism - eight lectures Lec 7

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.101


A Reaction

This is the best slogan for strong phenomenalism ever coined! It also seems to fit David Lewis's approach to philosophy, as the pure study of the mosaic of experiences.