Elements of metaphysics

Name: Elements of metaphysics
Author: Taylor, A. E. (Alfred Edward)

Taylor, A. E. (Alfred Edward)

Metaphysics

§ 1. Distinction between the experimental sciences and a
         Philosophy of Nature and Mind. The former concerned with
         the description, the latter with the interpretation of
         facts. § 2. Cosmology is the critical examination of the
         special characteristics of the physical order. Its main
         problems are: (1) The problem of the nature of Material
         Existence; (2) problem of the justification of the
         concept of the Mechanical Uniformity of Nature; (3)
         problems of Space and Time; (4) problem of the
         Significance of Evolution; (5) problem of the Place of
         descriptive Physical Science in the system of Human
         Knowledge                                                 191


                               CHAPTER II

                         THE PROBLEM OF MATTER


    § 1. The physical order, because dependent for its perceived
         qualities on the sense-organs of the percipient, must be
         the appearance of a more ultimate reality which is
         non-physical. § 2. Berkeley’s criticism is fatal to the
         identification of this reality with “material
         substance.” The logical consequence of Berkeley’s
         doctrine that the _esse_ of sensible things is
         _percipi_, would be the subjectivist view that the
         physical order is _only_ a complex of presentations. §
         3. But this is clearly not the case with that part of
         the physical order which consists of the bodies of my
         fellow-men. These have an existence, as centres of
         feeling, over and above their existence as presentations
         to my senses. § 4. As the bodies of my fellows are
         connected in one system with the rest of the physical
         order, that order as a whole must have the same kind of
         reality which belongs to them. It must be the
         presentation to our sense of a system or complex of
         systems of experiencing subjects; the apparent absence
         of life and purpose from inorganic nature must be due to
         our inability to enter into a direct communion of
         interest with its members. § 5. Some consequences of
         this view                                                 198


                              CHAPTER III

                           THE MEANING OF LAW

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Elements of metaphysics

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