"The concept of the Absolute was re-introduced into philosophy by Hegel,
Schelling, and their followers; it is associated with various forms of
philosophical idealism. The Absolute, either under that name, or as the "Ground
of Being", or some similar concept, also figures in several of the attempted
proofs of the existence of God, particularly the ontological argument and the
cosmological argument. In scholastic philosophy the Absolute was regarded as
Pure Act, unadulterated with remaining potential.The concept was adopted into
neo-Hegelian British idealism (though without Hegel's complex logical and
dialectical apparatus), where it received an almost mystical exposition at the
hands of F.H. Bradley. Bradley (followed by others including Timothy L.S.
Sprigge) conceived the Absolute as a single all-encompassing experience, rather
along the lines of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta. Likewise, Josiah Royce in the
United States conceived the Absolute as a unitary Knower Whose experie
nce constitutes what we know as the "external" world." (Wiki)
Compare Pragmatism, etc.:
"Particularly the works of William James and F.C.S. Schiller, both founding
members of pragmatism, made lifelong assaults on Absolute Idealism. James was
particularly concerned with the monism that Absolute Idealism engenders, and
the consequences this has for the problem of evil, free will, and moral action.
Schiller rather attacked Absolute Idealism for being too disconnected with our
practical lives, and that its proponents failed to realize that thought is
merely a tool for action rather than for making discoveries about an abstract
world that fails to have any impact on us.Absolute idealism has greatly altered
the philosophical landscape. Paradoxically, (though, from a Hegelian point of
view, maybe not paradoxically at all) this influence is mostly felt in the
strong opposition it engendered. Both logical positivism and grew out of a
rebellion against Hegelianism prevalent in England during the 19th century.
Continental phenomenology, existentialism and post-modernism al
so seek to 'free themselves from Hegel's thought'. Martin Heidegger, one of
the leading figures of Continental philosophy in the 20th century, sought to
distance himself from Hegel's work. One of Heidegger's philosophical themes was
"overcoming metaphysics"." (Wiki)
John said to Adrie:
I thought pragmatism was supposed to be pragmatic. One damn universe at a
time, please. One universe, as big as infinite thought, which contains
(probably) multiple stages of play - where the rules are different, behind that
curtain, yes. I get that. I just don't see the need for a ridiculous kludge
like "multi-uni-verse". Sorry Adrie. Sorry William.
dmb says:
Pragmatism (or Humanism, as James preferred to call it) was practically
invented to defeat Absolute Idealism. As he saw it, Absolutism was just another
name for orthodox theology. It was the philosophy of buttoned-up prigs who
insisted that feelings have nothing to do with the truth. The block universe,
he called it. The Absolute itself, he thought, was a metaphysical fiction. It
was the kind of "trans-experiential entity" that his radically empirical method
will not admit. But more to the point...
"The truth is too great for any one actual mind, even thought that mind be
dubbed 'the Absolute,' to know the whole of it. The facts and worths of life
need many cognizers to take them in. The is no point of view absolutely public
and universal." (James says in the intro to his "Talks to Teachers") "The
practical consequences of such a philosophy is the well-known democratic
respect for the sacredness of individuality - is, at any rate, the outward
tolerance of whatever in not itself intolerant."
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