The Mind of God and the Works of ManSeeking to discover the connection between philosophy as studied in universities and those general views of man and reality which are 'philosophy' to the educated layman, Edward Craig offers a view of philosophy and its history since the early seventeenth century. He presents this period as concerned primarily with just two visions of the essential nature of man. One portrays human beings as made in the image of God, required to resemble Him as far as lies in our power; the other sees us as autonomous creators of our own environment and values. The author writes with a broad sweep not encouraged by recent trends, yet shows (with particular reference to Hume and Hegel) how textual detail which previous commentators have found opaque becomes transparent when viewed against such a background. In the final chapter he treats passages from recent work in the same way. The general conceptions which philosophical thought embodies can equally well be embodied in other media, especially literary. The author illustrates this point with German and English examples and thereby draws together disciplines often felt to be far apart. He also reveals striking similarities between Anglo-American and certain twentieth-century continental lines of thought. - |
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Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Mind of God | 13 |
Intelligible Causes | 37 |
Copyright | |
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action activity agency agent allow appears argument attempt become beginning belief bring called causal cause chapter claim clear close cognitive comes complete concept concerned connection consciousness consists course definition divine doctrine doubt effect example existence expect experience explanation expression fact feeling follow force further give given Hegel hold human Hume Hume's Ibid idea Ideal Image impression independent individual Insight interest James Kant kind knowledge least Leibniz less logic look matter means metaphysical mind moral nature necessary object once particular passage perceptions perhaps philosophy position possible practice present principle problem produce properties question reader reading reality reason regard relation scepticism seems seen sense Similarity Thesis speaking statement suggest suppose tells theory things thought true truth turns understanding universal whole writing