Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
for the
E;
'
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--
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I Y , ,
,
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r-
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'
I h e r e b y g r a n t t o Simon F r a s e r U n i v e r s i t y t h e r i g h t t o lend
my t h e s i s o r d i s s e r t a t i o n ( t h e t i t l e o f which i s shown b e l o w ) t o u s e r s
o f t h e Simon F r a s e r U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y , and t o make p a r t i a l o r s i n g l e
c o p i e s o n l y f o r s u c h u s e r s o r i n r e s p o n s e t o a r e q u e s t from t h e l i b r a r y
o f a n y o t h e r u n i v e r s i t y , o r o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n , on i t s own
b e h a l f o r f o r one of i t s u s e r s .
I f u r t h e r agree t h a t permission f o r
m u l t i p l e c o p y i n g of t h i s t h e s i s f o r s c h o l a r l y p u r p o s e s may be g r a n t e d
b y me o r t h e Dean of Graduate S t t l d i e s .
I t is u n d e r s t o o d t h a t c o p y i n g
o r p u b l i c a t i o n of t h i s t h e s i s f o r f i n a n c i a l g a i n s h a l l n o t b e a l l o w e d
w i t h o u t my w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n .
T i t l e of T h e s i s / ~ i s s e r t a t i o n:
Author:
(signature )
(name )
(date)
iii
c i e s i s t h e n e c e s s a r y s t a r t i n g p o i n t of c o n s t r u c t i v e e f f o r t .
iiowhere i s the t r u t h of t n i s o b s e r v a t i o n more e v i d e n t than i n
a comprehensive examination of Deweyan pragmatism.
Indeed, t o
T h i s thesis
i t i s a g r e a t misfortune that t h e
oblivion.
a s a simple e d u c a t i o n a l methodology.
o u t l i n i n g i n some depth the major axioms of pragmatic e p i s t o mology, ontology and axiology.
1 s h a l l d e a l w i t h t h e concept
S p e c i a l emphasis w i l l be
Xy concluding
. . . . . . . . . . . . ii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
IU.AILarING COmIljltPi&
&STiUCTS
.........
I1
.......
26
The knowing-doing d u a l i t y
The c o n t r o l l e d process of knowing
Truth and knowledge defined
Notestoparttwo.
111
.........
....
.34
36
The reason-belief d u a l i t y
The genesis of value
The i d e n t i t y o f good
Uotestopartthree.
The c a p a c i t y t o achieve s a t i s f a c t i o n
Instrumental u n i v e r s a l s
"The gnawing t o o t h of time"
Notes t o Section Two
41
. . . . . . . . . . 48
Linked t o t h i s f a i l u r e
In i t s f u l l e s t possible
sense education i s a t o t a l process, the development of a l i f e s t y l e based on a l l experience, whether t a u g h t i n a formal mann e r o r l e a r n e d w i t h i n the socio-psycho-genic
environment; only
News t h e r e i s a n
old tradition.
Consequently, s i n c e "man's b i o l o g i c a l h e r i t a g e
maintenance
The
A s opgosed t o the u s u a l
The u n f o r t u n a t e
r a t h e r a s a simple e d u c a t i o n a l methodology,
Therefore, the f i r s t s e c t i o n of t h i s paper s h a l l be used
rZ
,
L
I)
'
'
a\ '
base u p o n v ~ h i c h a n y p h i l o s o p h y i s b u i l t ,I a h a l l n o t a t t e m p t
t o d e a l w i t h i t s e p a r a t e l y , b u t r a t h e r make t h e pragiiatic conc e p t i o n of r e a l i t y e x p l i c i t and comprehensible i n connection
I t should be c l e a r that
I i n t e n d t o confine my e x p l o r a t i o n s p r i m a r i l y t o Dewey, w i t h
the pragmatic o r i n s t r u m e n t a l p h i l o s o p h i c a l p o s i t i o n p r o v i d i n g
the c e n t r a l argument of t h i s paper,
I w i l l , however, draw
pragmatism.
Following t h e f i r s t s e c t i o n I a h a l l a t t e m p t t o answer
common c r i t i c i s m s l e v e l e d a g a i n s t pragmatism.
s e c t i o n two
To a n e x t e n t
iIe w r i t e s :
...
The s o c i a l philosophy of
Dewey was a v i r t u a l d e c l a r a t i o n of w a r on b i g o r g a n i z a t i o n s
s i n c e he saw t h e nge of &chines,
and by i m p l i c a t i o n b i g indus-
t r i a l complexes, a s a very g r e a t o b s t a c l e t o h m n p r o g r e s s
--
c o l o r e d l i f e i s s o precarious...tilat
a c q u i s i t i o n and bhe]
competitive scramble f o r
f r e n z i e d use of t h e r e s u l t s . . . f o r purpos4
e s of e x c i t a t i o n and d i s p l a y w i l l be perpetuated."
: tend
I do n o t i n -
O v e r a l l , the t h i r d s e c t i o n
I t i s my hope t h a t by b r i n g i n g prag-
Introduction
L i b r a r y , 1 9 5 7 ) , pp. 60-1,
3
Dewey, P u b l i c , p a 217
( ~ e n v e r :Alan
d2CTIOiT O&
concept i t i s t h e touchstone of p r a g m t i s m .
I n t h e conclu-
conviction t h a t ,
.,.
Free-
r e s e r v e d f o r p o l i t i c a l r h e t o r i c , a v a i l a b l e only i n America o r
the U.S .S .H.,
Indeed, t h e agon-
i z i n g confusion over t h e nature of freedom i s r e f l e c t e d i n a t t i t u d e s as v a r i o u s a s the c r y f o r " s t u d e n t power" t o t h e worldvide d e c l i n e of the church,
That g r e a t numbers of C a t h o l i c
l y a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e ancien regime no l o n g e r f i r m l y h o l d s
the r e i n s of a u t h o r i t y .
I n t u r n , our s c h o o l s
and u n i v e r s i t i e s a r e d i s r u p t e d by s t u d e n t r a d i c a l s who p r a c t i c e
what i s roughly described a s " c o n f r o n t a t i o n p o l i t i c s " aimed a t
making our i n s t i t u t i o n s " f r e e , " b u t a s y e t l i t t l e has been
achieved beyond t h e propagation of s l o g a n s and t h e quickening
of tempers.
X i t h i n t h e body of t h i s
The f i r s t s e c t i o n , made up of
t h r e e p a r t s , w i l l provide tile c o n t e x t u a l g u i d e l i n e s s o as t o
make p o s s i b l e an understanding of pragmatism, and i n t u r n , t o
make c l e a r t h e major reasons f o r the m i s a p p l i c a t i o n and m i s understanding o f pragmatic pedagogy.
iind second,
"
e x i s t e n t i a l m a t r i x of s o c i e t y , a s i s t h e examination of
Pragmatism h o l d s no a b s o l u t e s o r e t e r n a l s i n any t r a d i t i o n a l
sense.
Nothing i s f i x e d and f i n a l .
The dynamic n a t u r e of f r e e -
Dewey
o n t o l o g i c a l p o s i t i o n i s i n c o n t r a s t , and he a n t i c i p a t e s c r i t i - -
cism from t h i s q u a r t e r .
I n an e s s a y e n t i t l e d "The Need f o r a
d i s r e g a r d of t h e o l o g i c a l dogmas or p o l i t i c a l o r moral imperat i v e s : freedom i s n o t given, b u t i s achieved through i n t e l l i g e n t o b s e r v a t i o n and s c e p t i c a l examination of those t h i n g s
" a s t h e y occur interwoven i n the t e x t u r e of events."
Since
world e x i s t e n t i a l l y i s a f i r s t s t e p i n understanding t h e
n a t u r e of freedom.
/-
a l s o i n c l u d e s capac-
-.-
In dealing w i t h the r o l e
of c h o i c e , Dewey i s c a r e f u l t o p o i n t o u t t h a t e a r l y i n t h e
h i s t o r y of thought the n o t i o n of choice became involved w i t h
t h e i d e a s of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and blame.
a n t t o a c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the i m p l i c a t i o n s of choice.
'
1
I
--"
In Free-
'
results.
The t h e o r e t i c a l formulation f o r the j u s t i f i c a t i o n of
choice a s t h e h e a r t of freedom becarile.,.imvolved a t a n
early t i ~ w
e i t h o t h e r i n t e r e s t s ; and they. .determined
t h e form taken by a widely p r e v a l e n t philosophy of f r e e dom...philosophy of t h e n a t u r e of choice a s freedom developed as an a p o l o g i a f o r a n e s s e n t i a l l y l e g a l i n t e r e s t :
l i a b i l i t y t o punishment. The outcome was the d o c t r i n e
known a s freecorn of ~ ! i l l . . . S o e s t a b l i s h e d d i d t h i s way of
viewing choice become, that i t i s s t i l l c o m o n l y supposed
that choice. and t h e a r b i t r a r y freedom of w i l l a r e one and
t h e same t h i n g o 7
"
argument i s i n i t s end r e s u l t .
--
in
The importance of t h e
The i m p l i c a t i o n s of h o l d i n g
On t h e one
On t h e c o n t r a r y , r a t h e r
human conduct.
tence of f r e e - w i l l ; he just d e n i e s i t s u t i l i t y i n e x p l a i n i n g
consequences.
d e f i n i t i o n s of a b s t r a c t s t h a t remain a b s t r a c t , l i k e f r e e - w i l l
o r determinism, s o as t o answer q u e s t i o n s of human d i f f i c u l t i e s caused by such a b s t r a c t s , h a r d l y seems a worth-while t a s k .
It i s simply a n e x e r c i s e i n asking t a e vronz questiona.
The
d i s c u s s i o n on f r e e - w i l l i s t y p i c a l of t h e consequences brought
I
The dan-
10
n a t u r e and p u b l i c l i f e .
b e t t e r one.
5 i s "determinism"
itather than
c r e d i t i n g unseen f o r c e s , s u p e r i o r o r d e r s o f e x i s t e n c e o r t r a n -
c o n t r o l l e d by s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s .
Cut s i n c e he a l s o s e e s soc-
i a l c o n d i t i o n s a s u n c e r t a i n and c h a n ~ i n g ,t h e r e can be no
assumptions about what a f u t u r e s o c i e t y k:ay b r i n g , o r t h e r o l e
man w i l l p l a y i n it.
among and out of p r e f e r e n c e s ; n o t i n t h e sense of one p r e f e r ence a l r e a d y made and s t r o n g e r t h a n o t h e r s , b u t a s the form-
11
!T
;e use t h e f o r e s i g h t of
In this
--
I n o r d e r t o a c t e f f e c t i v e l y , be i t climbing
Tize r e l a t i v e
A s a simple i l l u s t r a -
"
12
untenable,
The
The b a s i c human
The p l i g h t of the
It i s impera-
It
Thus,
I t i s hard-
The
a c t i s c a s t w i t h i n the s o c i a l and e x i s t e n t i a l m a t r i x of l a w
and custom.
The n o t i o n t h a t men a r e e q u a l l y f r e e t o a c t i f o n l y
irt h e same l e g a l arrangements a p p l y e q u a l l y t o a l l
r e s p e c t i v e of d i f f e r e n c e s i n e d u c a t i o n , i n command of
c a p i t a l , and the c o n t r o l of t h e s o c i a l environment which
i s f u r n i s h e d by the i n s t i t u t i o n of p r o p e r t y
i s a pure
a b s u r d i t y , as f a c t s have demonstrated. dince a c t u a l , t h a t
i s , e f f e c t i v e , r i g h t s and demands a r e products of i n t e r a c t i o n s , and a r e n o t found i n t h e o r i g i n a l and i s o l a t e d
cons ti t u t i o n of human n a t u r e , whether moral o r paycholog i c a l , mere e l i m i n a t i o n of o b s t r u c t i o n s i s n o t enough.
The l a t t e r merely l i b e r a t e s f o r c e and a b i l i t y a s that
happens t o be d i s t r i b u t e d by p a s t a c c i d e n t s of h i s t o r y .
T h i s ' f r e e t a c t i o n operates d i s a s t r o u s l y a s f a r as the
many a r e concerned. The only p o s s i b l e conclusion, b o t h
i n t e l l e c t u a l l y and p r a c t i c a l l y , i s that t h e a t t a i n m e n t
of freedom conceived a s power t o a c t i n accord w i t h choice
depends upon p o s i t i v e and c o n s t r u c t i v e changes i n s o c i a l
arrangementsel5
--
--
of the two depends upon c o n s t r u c t i v e s o c i a l change, t h e emphas i s must be placed on i n d i v i d u l a choice and a c t i o n , so t h a t
I n o t h e r words, i t r e q u i r e s
i n d i v i d u a l understanding of t h e n a t u r e of freedom t o b r i n g
about s o c i a l freedoms.
The c e n t r a l problem i n understanding the n a t u r e of f r e e dom i s the r e l a t i o n s h i ~between choice and a c t i o n : "There i s
an i n t r i n s i c connection betneen choice as freedom and power of
I
a c t i o n asFreedom. B choice which i n t e l l i g e n t l y m a n i f e s t s i n d i -
with i n t e l l i g e n t temporal a u t h o r i t y , hoaever, r e q u i r e s i n t e r a c t i o n with objective conditions, and s i n c e Dewey's d e f i n i t i o n of w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s "objective conditionst1 i s t o be found
within the pragmatic concept of r e a l i t y , the o n t o l o g i c a l queat i o n must be examined.
objective conditions a l s o involves the i n t e r - r e l a t e d cosmolog i c a l question, i n order then, t o avoid excessive q u a l i f i c a t i o n s ,
I w i l l r e f e r t o the o v e r a l l concern a s cosmo-ontological.
Obvious-
Dewey would
Xe i s forced t o
of nature.
[and].
..
Since man was on the one h m d a p a r t of nature and on the othe r hand a meuber of the realm of s p i r i t , a l l problems came t o
18
In
Such a notion
f i n d s i t s beginning i n the attempt t o explain men and the a f f a i r s of men i n terms of science.
AS
t i a t e d by an a c c e l e r a t i n g succession of d i s c o v e r i e s i n s c i e n c e ,
which i n t u r n provided t h e means t o q u e s t i o n the a l r e a d y f r a g menting o l d o r d e r s of Ohurch and S t a t e ,
But u n l i k e t h e e a r l i -
Z t h i c a l n o t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e n a t u r e of
He goes on t o say:
aost
in
the Uchinir, K o e s t l e r p o i n t s out that s c i e n c e ' s e t h i c a l neut r a l i t y , coupled m i t h i t s prover? tae tllodolo&y, provides the
..
- - o e s t l e r was h o p e f u l , a s ;vas
F~iliJh e a l
and
resume i t s o r i g i n a l meaning a s b o t h a g u i d e
21
t o understand in^ and a guide t o conduct, "
X a t u r a l Law
will
But
if cha.nge
i s genuine, i f a c -
Ae
tempered by a n h o n e s t r e c o g n i t i o n of tne c h a r a c t e r of p r e s e n t
knowledge and experience,
I do n o t hold t h a t acience w i l l
s o l v e a l l problems b u t nor do t h e p r a g m a t i s t s .
The c e n t r a l
Yragmatisn r e p r e s e n t s
I- the i n f l u e n c e of man.
\
1 pragmatic
\
t
\ is
5-
I n e f f e c t , t h e r e s u l t of h o l d i n g the
i n h e r e n t l y human.
l l n i s p a r t of n s t u r e and s o a l s o a r e
consistent relations.
'
'
Sub-
S e c t i o n One: p a r t one
Uewey, n i x p e r i e n c e , chap. d l i .
, 1917 ) , pp.
(cont, )
AS
15
17
S e c t i o n One: p a r t one
ilOrJXS (cont )
Dewey, w e s t , p. 53.
19
20
19491, p. 231.
21
K o e s t l e r , I n s i g h t , p . 234,
22
23
Dewey, -n
I h t u r e , p. 284.
i
I
d i s c u s s i o n on the c l a s s i c a l d u a l i t y o f r e a l and i d e a l .
As
we
'
from "doing."
-.
The i d e a
f l e c t i o n of this d e f i n i t i o n .
--
To t h e Greek p h i l o s o p h e r s
beneath t h e i r concern.
Lince the
g r e a t i n f l u e n c e of the Greeks has been acknowledged and chroni c l e d by the h i s t o r i a n s of philosophy and s c i e n c e , i t mould
seem redundant t o d e t a i l the acceptance of the Greek worldview from a n c i e n t t o ~ ~ e d i a e vand
d modern times.
:';bi tehead s famous rermrlc that
I'
Professor
the s a f e s t g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r -
c o n s i s t s i n a a e r i e s of f o o t n o t e s t o P l a t o , " i s a s v a l i d today
a s i t was on t h e day i t was w r i t t e n ,
K o e s t l e r claims i t should
- .,. . .,
i; : ,,
\;
knowing-doing d u a l i t y ,
,- i n g
I
of i n f o r m a t i o n without purpose.
"
L?.
\
1
ns
'+':ith t h e
&en i f
They
The q u e s t i s on-going,
Iiowever, the r e a d i n g i t s e l f
If t h e reading i s
If a p p l i e d ,
Only t o the e x t e n t t h a t a c t i o n i s
re-
i n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s of s c i e n c e ~ n c common
.
endeavor,
The gen-
of I n a u i r y .
..
-- f r o m which
-- and a n
But doubt i s
'
unknowable, not because they a r e remote o r behind some impenet r a b l e v e i l of sensation of i d e a s , b u t because knowledge has
no concern with them,
c e s , co-existences,
relations,"
From t h i s conception of r e a l -
"The
gle to a t t a i n belief,"
It i s c e r t a i n t l y b e s t f o r us t h a t our b e l i e f s should be
such a s may t r u l y guide our a c t i o n s s o a s t o s a t i s f y our
d e s i r e s ; and t h i s r e f l e c t i o n w i l l make us r e j e c t every
b e l i e f which does n o t seem t o have been s o formed a s t o
i n s u r e this r e s u l t , But i t w i l l only do so by c r e a t i n g
a doubt i n the place of that b e l i e f . Xith the doubt,
t h e r e f o r e , the s t r u g g l e begins, and w i t h t h e c e s s a t i o n
of doubt i t ends, Hence, the s o l e o b j e c t o f i n q u i r y i s
the s e t t l e m e n t of opinion. .de may fancy t h a t this i s n o t
enough f o r us, and t h a t we seek, n o t merely an opinion,
b u t a t r u e opinion, But put t h i s fancy t o the t e s t , and
i t proves groundless; f o r a s soon as a f i r m b e l i e f i s
reached we a r e e n t i r e l y s a t i s f i e d , whether the b e l i e f be
t r u e or f a l s e , And i t i s c l e a r that nothing out of the
sphere of our knowledge can be our o b j e c t , f o r nothing
which does n o t a f f e c t the mind can be the motive f o r
mental a c t i o n , The m o s t t h a t can be maintained i s , that
we seek f o r a b e l i e f t h a t we s h a l l t h i n k t o be t r u e .
But we t h i n k each one of our b e l i e f s t o be t r u e , and,
indeed, i t i s nere tautology t o say s o o 5
I n t h e same essay Eeirce examines t r a d i t i o n a l philoso6
making i t c l e a r that
IIe a s s e r t s t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y aAd
of pragmatic ontology.
He a s k s us t o c o n s i d e r what e f f e c t s
-- b u t
t r u t h of a f u n c t i o n a l na-
A s he w r i t e s :
Jhen
u t i l i t y f o r i n q u i r y i n the f i x a t i o n of b e l i e f .
A claim p e r f e c t -
l y c o n s i s t e n t with a philosophy t h a t o n t o l o g i c a l l y f i x e s on a
recognition of the temporal and changing n a t u r e of man's world.
Truth and knowledge a r e s i m i l a r l y f r e e from absolute
definition.
In Reconstruction i n l ? h i l o s o ~ hJewey
~
asks t h a t we
affairs.
m e n the p r a c t i c e of knowledge ceased t o be d i a l e c t i c a l
and became experimental, knowing became pre-occupied w i t h
changes and the t e s t of howledge became t h e a b i l i t y t o
b r i n g about c e r t a i n changes. Ihowing, f o r the experimental sciences, means a c e r t a i n kind 02 i n t e l l i g e n t l y
conducted doing; i t ceases t o be contemplative and becomes i n a t r u e sense p r a c t i c a l . iiow this implies t h a t
philosophy, unless i t i s t o undergo a complete break
with the authorized s p i r i t of science, must a l s o a l t e r
i t s nature. It must a e s m e a p r a c t i c a l nature.. .9
And i n h i s major study on epistemology, Ax~e-rienceand Hature,
he d e f i n e s the term t r u t h .
''Truth i s a c o l l e c t i o n of t r u t h s ;
1 other.
\
'
--
I n short, knowledge i s
10
f -
\ doing,
F i f t h , a d e c l a r a t i o n of a c t i o n s p e c i f i c a l l y aimed
the a c t i o n i t s e l f ,
The f o u r t h and f i f t h s t e p s r e p r e s e n t t h e
To
e r r o r i n q u i r y w i t h s l i g h t chance of success.
These f i v e s t e p s
t g d r e f l e c t i v e experience.
the s t e p s involved i s i n some way i n t e r - r e l a t e d with the pragmatic n o t i o n s of knowledge, experience, the nature of r e a l i t y
and t r u t h and f a l s i t y ,
Dewey a n t i c i p a t e d such
means
the v e r i f i e d and means nothing e l s e placea upon men the respons i b i l i t y f o r surrendering p o l i t i c a l and moral dams, and
s u b j e c t i n g t o the t e s t of consequences t h e i r most cheriahed
12
prejudices
."
Dewey, i n s t e a d of ne-
H i s i n s i s t e n c e t h a t m n s t o p the
S e c t i o n One: p a r t two
11OrTZ5
-(cont )
P e i r c e , P h i l o s ~ ~ i c a.:ritings,
l
pp. 15-17.
10
12
Dewey, H e c o n s t r u c t i o n , p . 160
On Value a q u h e C r i t i c s m of B e l i e f s
Inquiry
i s seen a s u s e f u l only i n s e t t l i n g q u e s t i o n s of t r u t h o r
Diagram.
light.
He then went on t o s a y ,
.l
'
l e d change
--
--
t h e means t o c o n t r o l -
It m a t t e r s
a r e products of experience.
Thus i n q u i r y i s a s v a l i d a
'' khd d i f f e r e n c e
in
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r s i s n o t incompatible w i t h the e x i s t e n c e of a
3
kf
common p a t t e r n
i n q u i r d i n b o t h types."
,
\
<
"As a n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of
A11
some b e l i e f . . . I n
t o i t s revision,"
This "wholly mythological" n o t i o n , stemming from the
s e p a r a t i o n of b e l i e f from reason, f i n d s i t s p h i l o s o p h i c a l
i j e c t - o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p i s i t s e l f a p a r t of nature.
Opin-
There
If the
become the c r i t i c i s m o f b e l i e f s .
The c e n t r a l reason f o r t h e s u b j e c t i v e - o b j e c t i v e confusion
i s the r e t r e a t of most p h i l o s o p l ~ i e si n t o t h e p o s i t i o n that
As Dewey
Value i s
i
. I
bad a r e considered t o be o u t s i d e of r e a l i t y .
i)eweyVsp o s i t i o n ,
,--
'
But I
q u e s t i o n of end r e s u l t s .
But t o s e e k o u t c e r t a i n t y i n value
i s as f r u i t l e s s a t a s k a s i t i s i n s c i e n c e , f o r l i k e s c i e n c e ,
Pragmatically, t o
"Of imediate
Zventual good, o r i t s a p p r a i s a l ,
must involve i n q u i r y :
The moment we begin t o d i s c o u r s e about,..values, t o
d e f i n e and g e n e r e l i z e , t o m.ke d i s t i n c t i o n s i n k i n d s ,
we a r e p a s s i n g beyond value-ob j e c ts themselves ; we a r e
e n t e r i n g , even i f only b l i n d l y , u2on a n i n q u i r y i n t o
c a u s a l a n t e c e d e n t s and c a u s a t i v e consequents, w i t h a
view t o a p p r a i s i n g the ' r e a l , ' t h a t i s the e v e n t u a l ,
goodness of the t h i n g i n question. Je a r e c r i t i c i z i n g ,
i/;'-
(>-
Arguments t h a t l e a d
an o b j e c t i s b e l i e v e d i n , i s o f f e r e d as reason t o s u b s t a n t i a t e
the b e l i e f , b u t such a n argument i s only p r e l i m i n a r y t o t h e
q u e s t i o n o f t h e g e n e s i s of the b e l i e f and i t s p r e s e n t value,
The a l l - i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r i s v ~ h a tl i e s back of [the bel i e f i n something a s a good and causes acceptance and
r e j e c t i o n ; whether o r no t h e r e i s a method of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and assessment n h i c h makes a d i f f e r e n c e i n w h a t i s
a s s e n t e d t o and denied, Y r o 2 e r t i e s and r e l a t i o n s that
e n t i t l e an o b j e c t t o be found good i n b e l i e f a r e e x t r a n eous t o t h e q u a l i t i e s that a r e i t s immediate good; they
a r e c a u s a l , and hence found only by s e a r c h i n t o t h e a n t e cedent and t h e eventual. The conception t h a t t h e r e a r e
some o b j e c t s o r some p r o p e r t i e s o f o b j e c t s which c a r r y
t h e i r onn adequate c r e d e n t i a l s upon t h e i r f a c e i s t h e
s n a r e and d e l u s i o n of the whole h i s t o r i c t r a d i t i o n r e g a r d i n g knowledge
Thus immediate good and e v e n t u a l good can be d i s t i n g u i s h e d
only i n terms of r e l a t i o n a l a s p e c t s .
good a r r i v e d a t through
The e x t e n t i s
Goods e s t a b l i s h e d through i n q u i r y
c o n d i t i o n s ; t h e r e f o r e , i n no way do t h e y s t i f l e the c r e a t i v e
11
genius of man.
S e c t i o n Ong: p a r t t h r e e
NOTES
i n L x m r i e n c e and i i a t u a , Sev~eyp r e s e n t s w h a t I s e e t o
be t h e b e s t argument I ham encountered t h u s far f o r the
r e j e c t i o n of c l a s s i c a l d u a l i t y : pp, 68-71.
7
..-.
LO
up h i s hope f o r
1I
S e c t i o n One: p a r t t h r e e
iiO'ILS ( c o n t )
on a n a t u r a l t e l e o l o g y :
Poetry, a r t , r e l i g i o n a r e p r e c i o u s t h i n g s . They cann o t be maintained by l i n g e r i n g i n the p a s t and f u t i l e l y
wishing t o r e s t o r e what the movement of e v e n t s i n s c i ence, i n d u s t r y and g o l i t i c a has destroyed. They a r e a n
o u t - f l o w e ~ i n gof thought and d e s i r e s thzt unconsciously
converge i x l o a d i s p o s i t i o n of imagination as a r e s u l t
e l LhousanGs and thousands o f d a i l y e p i s o d e s and c o n t a c t .
T h e y canilot be w i l l e d i n t o e x i s t e n c e o r coerced i n t o bei n The wind of the s p i r i t bloweth anere i t l i s t e t h
2nd. tne kingdom of God i n such t h i n g s does n o t come w i t h
observation. Zut virile i t i s impossible t o r e t a i n and
recover by d e l i b e r a t e v o l i t i o n old s o u r c e s of r e l i g i o n
m d a r t that have been d i s c r e d i t e d , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o
e x p e d i t e the developnent of t h e v i t a l s o u r c e s of a r e l i g i o n and a r t t h a t a r e y e t t o be. iJot indeed by a c t i o n
d i r a c t l y aimed a t t h e i r production, b u t by s u b s t i t u t i n g
f a i t h i n t h e a c t i v e tendencies o f t h e day f o r dread and
d i s l i k e of them, and by the courage aria i n t e l l i g e n c e t o
f o l l o w whither s o c i a l and s c i e n t i f i c changes d i r e c t s us.
bye a r e weak today i n i d e a l m a t t e r s because i n t e l l i g e n c e
i s divorced froril a s p i r a t i o n . The b a r e f o r c e of circumstance coz!ipels us o n m r d s i n t h e d a i l y d e t a i l of our bei i e f ' 3 and a c t s , b u t our deeper thoughts and d e s i r e s t u r n
bzckuards.
.dhen philosophy s h a l l have co-operatea d t h
t r ~ ecourse of e v e n t s and made c l e a r and coherent the
rzea~lingof the d a i l y d e t a i l , s c i e n c e and emotion w i l l
irl.terpenetrate, p r a c t i c e and imagination w i l l embrace.
I-oc-Lry and r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g w i l l be the unforced flowers
3
2
. To f u r t h u r t h i s a r t i c u l a t i o n and r e v e l a t i o n
df
ci~emeanind of t h e c u r r e n t course of e v e n t s i s t h e
t h d k and problem of philosophy i n days of t r a n s i t i o n .
S C T I O K T./ii
Furthur Observations
-------------on >'reedom, I n a u i r y and Ontology
The f i r s t r e j e c t s the
I have
j e c t e d out of hand.
20 d e f i n e freedom as an explor-
Only i f freedom
Je saw e a r l i e r t h a t a c t i o n i n r e l a t i o n t o choice i s i n t r i n s i c
t o freedom; consequently, no m a t t e r w h a t our d i s p o s i t i o n
might be, u n l e s s we have b o t h the a b l i i t y t o a c t and choose
i n accord
-
freedom.
our e x p l o r a t i o n s t h a t t o &o so vould g r e a t l y enhance the f o r tunes of the comolunity served by the r i v e r .
B u t a f t e r choos-
If t h e r e i s no p a r t y or person represen-
Hichard E e r n s t e i n e x p l a i n s t h a t
I'
..lmere e l i m i n a t i o n of o b s t r u c t i o n s
..
.Dewey t e l l s us
i s n o t enough t o
h n ' s freedom i s n o t a
'But l i k e a l l o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s ,
t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y has t o be a c t u a l i z e d ; and l i k e a l l o t h e r s ,
v i d u a l i t y , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o counter t h e n a t u r a l tendency of
a technological society.
P r e s e n t s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s must
f a c t i o n cannot be intended as a f i n a l s t a t e ,
There i s no
f u t u r e p o i n t i n time a t n h i c h i t could be s a i d t h a t t o t a l
s a t i s , d f a c t i o n would be achieved.
Preedom, l i k e a l l . of human
It i s
meaningless f o r one t o s t a t e t k ~ he
t i s f r e e : he i s e i t h e r
f r e e t o d o something, o r f r e e f r o & something, b u t never j u s t
free.
i;
man, he i s f r e e from p r i s o n .
e r power of a c t i o n , g r e a t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e achievement
of freedom, b u t i f he u s e s t h e s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o a g a i n viol a t e t h e law, t h u s j e o p a r d i z i n g the freedom of o t h e r s , he w i l l
f i n d himself soon deprived of even t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of freedom.
There i s , of course, a s o c i a l argument h e r e .
n s we saw
Deviant s o c i a l b e h a v i o r , t n e r e f ore, i s
ience.
i t s value?"
O f course,
There i s no suggestion
.:hat i s suggested i s t h a t i n q u i r y i s
On t h i s
I
I
Dewey
C e r t a i n t y , changelessness,
i d e a l s , a r e a t t r i b u t a b l e t o instrumental u n i v e r s a l s , not
hypothesized i n t o a s u p e r i o r order of existence o r transcend e n t a l laws of the universe.
As
Dewey w r i t e s i n B x ~ e r i e n c e
and Hature :
Timeless laws, taken by themselves, l i k e a l l univers a l s , express d i a l e c t i c i n t e n t , n o t any m a t t e r of f a c t
e x i s t e n c e , But t h e i r u l t i m a t e implication i s a p p l i c a t i o n ;
tney a r e methods, and when a p p l i e d as methods they r e g u l a t e the precarious f l o w of unique s i t u a t i o n s , Objects
of n a t u r a l science a r e not metaphysical r i v a l s of h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t s ; they a r e means of d i r e c t i n g the l a t t e r .
Events change; one i n d i v i d u a l gives place t o another,
But i n d i v i d u a l l y q u a l i f i e d things have some q u a l i t i e s
which a r e pervasive, common, s t a b l e . They a r e out of
time i n the sense t h a t a p a r t i c u l a r temporal q u a l i t y i s
i r r e l e v a n t t o them. I f anybody f e e l s r e l i e v e d by c a l l i n g
them e t e r n a l , l e t them be c a l l e d e t e r n a l . % u t l e t n o t
' e t e r n a l 1 be then conceived a s a kind of a b s o l u t e perduring existence o r Being. I t denotes j u s t what i t denotes : i r r e l e v a n c e t o e x i s t e n c e i n i t s temporal q u a l i t y
.=is such they b t e r n a l d a r e t o o l s , i n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s
, h i s t o r i c events r e g u l a t e t h e i r course . g
....
sible.
I t would t e s t the
The import-
of the mythical e x p l d n a t i o n s
Je know f o r example t h a t
The
requirments of c o l l e c t i v e s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s .
A
In p r a c t i c a l
human terms, including "subjec t i v e t ' values a s well aa 'lob j e c t ive" f a c t s , the choice w i l l survive only s o long a s i t remains
functional.
measure i t s endurance...The
s t a b l e s t t h i n g me can speak of i a
thing
Section Two
Section Two
IiOPiS (cont. )
T o r an e x c e l l e n t a p p r a i s a l o f i n s t r u m e n t a l u n i v e r s a l 8 s e e :
SL C !i
103
! TiLXiG
Clearly,
Soviet t e c h n i c a l success
I f our system, so much
The charge
Hitler,"
cognitive deyel-
I n no
Je a r e con-
fused about aims of i n d i v i d u a l and s o c i a l l i f e ; thus the quest i o n s have t o do with philosophy a s well a s pedagogy.
I n the reading I have done, from Jacques Barzun's
The
---9
p r e s e n t day education i s a t b e s t f u l f i l l i n g some of the economic needs o f s o c i e t y , and a t worst, i a a huge and impersonal
wdchine unwilling or unable t o seek out new ways of maximizing
and making r e l e v a n t the experience of the c h i l d .
Eut t o imply
However, aewey i s no
Schools l i k e t h e
P h y s i c a l l y the s c h o o l
I n p l a c e of the s t a t i c "you
S c h e l l i n g ' s philosophy.
The c h i l d i s expected t o
h i s c r i t i q u e of t h e l a i s s e z - f a i r e approach t o education.
This
In opposition to this
''
corruption of Jev~ey's
s t i l l maintaining d i s -
The p i c t u r e i s
In
Uew
d i s t r i c t s would see f i t t o spend the kind of money on educat i o n t h a t would provide anything l i k e what Dewey had i n mind.
--
three
So long a s our s o c i a l p r i o r i t i e s remain what they a r e
n
times a s much money i s spent an.yally on cosmetics and a l c o h o l
a s i s s p e n t on education
--
l i t t l e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r a change
Secondly, Dewey i n
commonplace.
--
It i s s a f e t o s a y that many y e a r s of
---
i a n y of the
~ ~ they
n d r e p r e s e n t r e a l and e f f e c -
t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n of h i s t h e o r i e s .
On t h e c o n t r a r y , they r e a c h i n t o the
lco system
On t h e
Uewey
Since
t h e r e a r e i s s u e s y e t t o be explored, however, t h e q u e s t i o n of
e i t h e r education o r d r a s t i c s o c i a l c-knge w i l l be examined a t
the conclusion of t h i s paper,
2evreyts o n t o l o g i c a l a s s e r t i o n s a r e c e n t r a l t o the r e j e c t i o n of pragmatic pedagogy.
I s h a l l n o t , t h e r e f o r e , attempt t o
A s a n i n d i c a t i o n of the depth o f
The m i s -
This, i t
8
&though
VJhen i n -
Ee a l s o claims that
It i s absurd t o
Stripped o f
Clearly, t h i s i s a d e c l a r a t i o n f o r a continuation of
The p r e s e n t ~ t t i t u d e s ,h a b i t s and
Thus I s h a l l
As a n i l l u s t r a t i o n , the P l a t o n i c
This
asymptotically.
I t s purely f u n c t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s c l e a r when
we r e a l i z e t h a t , as a u n i t of measurement, i t needn't be a
h a l f i n c h a t a l l ; i t could j u s t as well be h a l f the l e n g t h of
a box of Xddy ;l;atches.
Vith
f u n c t i o n a l commonality a s a q u a l i f i c a t i o n , t h e r e a r e * e t e r n a l t '
t r u t h s , b u t they a r e c o n s t a n t s only i n a n i n s t r u m e n t a l s e n s e ;
i f you l i k e , i n s t r u m e n t a l u n i v e r s a l s .
the n a t u r e of sureness.
-- even
i f the f a c t s o f that h i s t o r y
c o n f l i c t w i t h the f a c t s of our r e l i g i o u s i d e o l o g i e s .
This i s
these d i s c i p l i n e s ,
Any deformation of d a t a o r
whether t e c h n i c a l , humanistic o r t h e o l o g i c a l , i s through prog r e s s i v e experience i n problem-solving and through progress i v e acquaintance with the r e l e v a n t h i s t o r y of man i n a tempor a l , existential setting.
This i s
Papal i n f a l l i b i l i t y , Fuehrerprinzip,
Iiaving l o s t
As K o e s t l e r so b e a u t i f u l l y p u t s i t : "An i n c r e a s i n g number of
s c i e n t i s t s , a u t h o r s , and p h i l o s o p h e r s , s i z e d by p a n i c , advocate
a r e t u r n t o d o c t r i n a i r e r e l i g i o n , t o the worship of an a n t h r o -
pomorphic God,
The f a c t t h a t m i l l i o n s i n o u r day s t i l l f i n d
comfort i n p e t r i f i e d d o c t r i n e proves
f o r self-transcendence
bill
khat-] t h e human c r a v i n g
be p u r c h a s e d a t any p r i c e , even a t
the p r i c e of i t s r e g r e s s i o n t o a f i x a t i o n a t an i n f a n t i l e l e v e l .
Pure myticism i s e q u a l l y u n f i t t o provide a s o l u t i o n .
The
tion."
'?hich b r i n g s us t o t h e added a c c u s a t i o n t h a t Qewey d i d
n o t b e l i e v e i n God and the s o u l .
It i s remarkable t h a t such
Since tile g e n e s i s of C h r i s t i a n i t y t h e r e
In fact, liberal
Clearly not
Dewey d i d
eat aim.
n e s s , o r mind
more synonyms
--
-- i n d i c a t e s a c u r i o u s narrowness
i n theology
and philosophy.
of h i s philosophy.
assumes
-
t h e e f f i c a c y of education i n h a s t e n i n g s o c i a l change.
Hutchins i s s u r e t h a t " r e l a t i v i s m , s c i e n t i s m , s c e p t i c i s m
and a n t i - i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m , the f o u r horsemen o f t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l apocalypse, have produced the chaos i n education which
16
v i l l end i n the d i s i n t e g r a t i o n of t h e Yest,"
Although e l s e -
Gxcept
iiutchins a l s o holds
i
.
IIe i s l i m i t -
He
Dewey, according t o
The answer
It i s my hope,
Until
F i n a l l y , the
S e c t i o n Three
NO%S
1 9 3 8 ) , p. v i i .
John Dewey, "Job Dewey's Gssays on Xducation," Contemp o r a r y Theories i n Xducation, ed. Howard L. Browing
(New York: W c m i l l a n , l 9 6 2 ) , p . 197.
'I
C o n t e m ~ o r a rTheories,
~
199.
(ii819
York: Lodern
C .U.Z.
Joad, Essays i n F h i 1 ~ s o ~ h . v
ondo don: Hutchinson,
1 9 5 9 ) , p . 67.
8
In h i s
s l b e r t i y n d , ,uczckery
L i t t l e Ljrown, l 9 3 9 ) , p. 112.
S e c tion Three
UO!D3S (cont.)
10
12
--
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14
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