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

Truth is just a name for verification-processes

3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 3. Correspondence Truth critique

18983

In many cases there is no obvious way in which ideas can agree with their object

3. Truth / D. Coherence Truth / 1. Coherence Truth

18972

Ideas are true in so far as they co-ordinate our experiences

18973

New opinions count as 'true' if they are assimilated to an individual's current beliefs

3. Truth / E. Pragmatic Truth / 1. Pragmatic Truth

18984

True ideas are those we can assimilate, validate, corroborate and verify (and false otherwise)

9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects

18987

A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / e. Substance critique

18981

'Substance' is just a word for groupings and structures in experience

11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 5. Aiming at Truth

18974

Truth is a species of good, being whatever proves itself good in the way of belief

12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 3. Pragmatism

18989

Pragmatism accepts any hypothesis which has useful consequences

14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science

18971

Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas

14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism

18982

Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality

18985

True thoughts are just valuable instruments of action

18. Thought / D. Concepts / 3. Ontology of Concepts / b. Concepts as abilities

18975

We return to experience with concepts, where they show us differences

28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections

18980

If there is a 'greatest knower', it doesn't follow that they know absolutely everything

28. God / A. Divine Nature / 4. Divine Contradictions

18978

It is hard to grasp a cosmic mind which produces such a mixture of goods and evils

28. God / B. Proving God / 1. Proof of God

18991

If the God hypothesis works well, then it is true

28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique

18977

The wonderful design of a woodpecker looks diabolical to its victims

18979

Things with parts always have some structure, so they always appear to be designed

28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / d. Religious Experience

18976

Private experience is the main evidence for God

29. Religion / C. Spiritual Disciplines / 3. Buddhism

18990

Nirvana means safety from sense experience, and hindus and buddhists are just afraid of life