Ideas from 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' by William James [1907], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' by James,William [Dover 1995,0-486-28270-8]].
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3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 9. Rejecting Truth
18986
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Truth is just a name for verification-processes
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3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 3. Correspondence Truth critique
18983
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In many cases there is no obvious way in which ideas can agree with their object
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3. Truth / D. Coherence Truth / 1. Coherence Truth
18972
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Ideas are true in so far as they co-ordinate our experiences
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18973
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New opinions count as 'true' if they are assimilated to an individual's current beliefs
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3. Truth / E. Pragmatic Truth / 1. Pragmatic Truth
18984
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True ideas are those we can assimilate, validate, corroborate and verify (and false otherwise)
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9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects
18987
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A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes
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9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / e. Substance critique
18981
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'Substance' is just a word for groupings and structures in experience
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11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 5. Aiming at Truth
18974
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Truth is a species of good, being whatever proves itself good in the way of belief
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12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 3. Pragmatism
18989
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Pragmatism accepts any hypothesis which has useful consequences
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science
18971
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Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism
18985
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True thoughts are just valuable instruments of action
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18982
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Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality
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18. Thought / D. Concepts / 3. Ontology of Concepts / b. Concepts as abilities
18975
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We return to experience with concepts, where they show us differences
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28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections
18980
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If there is a 'greatest knower', it doesn't follow that they know absolutely everything
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28. God / A. Divine Nature / 4. Divine Contradictions
18978
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It is hard to grasp a cosmic mind which produces such a mixture of goods and evils
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28. God / B. Proving God / 1. Proof of God
18991
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If the God hypothesis works well, then it is true
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28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique
18977
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The wonderful design of a woodpecker looks diabolical to its victims
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18979
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Things with parts always have some structure, so they always appear to be designed
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28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / d. Religious Experience
18976
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Private experience is the main evidence for God
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29. Religion / C. Spiritual Disciplines / 3. Buddhism
18990
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Nirvana means safety from sense experience, and hindus and buddhists are just afraid of life
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