First And Fundamental Truths - Being A Treatise On Metaphysics

FIRST AND FUNDAMENTAL BEING A TREATISE ON METAPHYSICS BY JAMES McCOSH, D. D., LL. D., LITT. D. EX-PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON COLLEGE, AUTHOR OF METHOD OP DIVINE GOVERNMENT, LAWS OF DISCURSIVE THOUGHT, 1 PSYCHOLOGY OF THB COGNITIVE POWERS, PSYCHOLOGY OF THE MOTIVE POWERS REALISTIC PHILOSOPHY NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS Copyright, 1889, Br CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS. PREFACE. EVERY linking mind has occasion at times to refer to first principles. In this work I have set myself ear nestly to inquire what these are to determine their na ture, and to classify and arrange them into a science. In pursuing this end I have reached a Realistic Phi losophy, opposed alike to the Sceptical Philosophy, which has proceeded from Hume, in England, and the Idealistic Philosophy, which has ramified from Kant, in Germany while I have also - departed from the Scottish and higher French Schools, as I hold resolutely that the mind, in its intelligent acts, begins with, and proceeds throughout, on a cognition of things. If the mind does not assume and start with things, it can never reach realities by any process of reasoning or induction. This work contains the results of my teaching of very large classes in Queens College, Belfast, Ireland, and in Princeton College, America, and may be regarded as the cope-stone of what I have been able to do in philosophy. I have expounded my philosophy in the text, and put the historical and critical disquisitions in smaller print to be read continuously as carrying on the discussion, or to be reserved for reference as my readers may find it best suited to accomplish the end they have in view. PRINCETON, N. J. February, 1889. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. PAGX DEFINITION OF THESCIENCE. The Jive Mental Science ., I PART FIRST. GENERAL VIEW OP PBIMITTVB PRINCIPLES, CHAPTER L NATURE OF FIRST TRUTHS. Meaning of the terms philosophy and philosophical . . . 5 CHAPTER II THREEFOLD ASPECTS or INTUITIVE TRUTHS. Innate Ideas . 12 CHAPTER in. TESTS OF INTUITIVE TRUTHS. Views of Aristotle, Leibnitz, Kant, Locke, Scottish School, Schelling, Hegel 16 CHAPTER IV. SPONTANEOUS AND REFLEX USE OF INTUITION. Kanfs view . 19 CHAPTER V. SOURCES OF ERROR IN METAPHYSICAL SPECULATION . . 22 CHAPTER VI. ERRONEOUS VIEWS OF INTUITION. Locke and Kant . 27 CHAPTER VH. LEGITIMATE USE OF FIRST PRINCIPLES. The Sophists . . 31 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER VHL SUPPLEHENTARY. BRIEF CRITICAL REVIEW OP OPINIONS IN REGARD TO INTUI TIVE TRUTHS 34 PART SECOND. PARTICULAR EXAMINATION OF PRIMITIVE TEUTHS. BOOK I. PRIMITIVE COGNITIONS. CHAPTER I. THE MIND BEGINS ITS INTELLIGENT ACTS WITH KNOWLEDGE . 58 CHAPTER IL OUR INTUITION OP BODY BY THE SENSES. Account by Mailer. Chcsdden case. Review of Berkeley, Kant, Hamilton, Fichte, Ferrier, Saisset, Locke, Spencer ....... 62 CHAPTER HL DISTINCTIONS TO BE ATTENDED TO IN OUR COGNITION 02 BODY. Difficulties in sense of sight. Apparent deception of the senses. Views, of Ekatics, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics. Epicureans and Aca demics, Augustine, Anselm, Kant, Hamilton, Sensational School and Brown 75 CHAPTER TV. APPARENT DECEPTION OF THB SENSES 83 CHAPTER V. THB ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OP MATTER. Descartes and Leibnitz as to Space and Force 85 CHAPTER VI. Qua INTUITIVE KNOWLEDGE OP SELF OB SPIRIT. Critical re view of mews of Descartes, Locke, Bujfitr, The Scottish School, Kant, The German Pantheists, Hamilton, Hansel ... 88 CHAPTER VIL SUBSTAKOB. Critical revie of opinions ofDescartes, Spinoza t Locke, 100 CONTENTS. CHAPTER MODE, QUALITY, PROPERTY, Essence. View of Locke . .110 CHAPTBE EL BEING ............ 118 CHAPTER X. EXTENSION. Views of Bain, Mutter ...... 121 CHAPTER XL NUMBER. Views of Aristotle, Locke, and Buffier . . . .124 CHAPTER Xn. MOTION. Views of Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Franz case . .126 CHAPTER XIH. POWER. Mills definition of Matter and Mind criticised . . .128 BOOK II. PRIMITIVE BELIEFS. CHAPTER L THEIR GENERAL NATURE. Presentative and Representative knowl edge...