… If he cannot exorcise this question …
This is from ‘The Sentiment of Rationality’ found in William James: Writings 1878-1899 (1992):
… The bottom of being is left logically opaque to us, as something which we simply come upon and find, and about which (if we wish to act) we should pause and wonder as little as possible.
[line break added] The philosopher’s logical tranquility is thus in essence no other than the boor’s. They differ only as to the point at which each refuses to let further considerations upset the absoluteness of the data he assumes. The boor does so immediately and is liable at any moment to the ravages of many kinds of doubt.
[line break added] The philosopher does not do so till unity has been reached, and is warranted against the inroads of those considerations, but only practically, not essentially, secure from the blighting breath of the ultimate Why? If he cannot exorcise this question, he must ignore or blink it …
My most recent previous post from James’s book is here.
-Julie
Coloring 