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18C. WESTERN PHILOSOPHY TO 1900

How to interpret the catalog entries:
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  • Page lengths, footnotes and bibliographic references: The title of the paper, usually typed in capital letters, is followed by a brief description of the paper and a specification of text page length (NOT including the bibliography or endnote pages), number of footnotes or citations, and number of bibliographic references.
 
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02319. DESCARTES AND THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. A summary of the French philosopher's proof of the existence of God. Descartes' theory is held to be in error in the assumption that the idea of God is a sufficiently clear conception to dispel doubt. Counter-arguments to the philosophy of doubt are presented in detail. 8 pages, 13 footnotes, 3 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
02311. THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. 11 pages, 23 footnotes, 10 bibliographic sources. See Reli gion   $77
 
02310. AESTHETIC THEORY AND ART AS AN OPEN CONCEPT. Tolstoy's theory of an "Emotionalist" aesthetic based on man's feelings and senses is expounded and several modern criticisms offered. 7 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $49
 
02265. THE LIFE AND WORK AND THOMAS MORE. Brief biography of More, and a summary and review of his most famous work, Utopia, setting forth a land where reason and humanity reign. 8 pages, 13 footnotes, 5 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
02241. DARWIN'S CENTURY AND THE EVOLUTION IDEA. A well-researched survey of the development of evolutionary thinking before Darwin and after showing the development and conflict in theology and science. Places Darwin within the context of other contemporary ideas. Illustrated. 9 pages, 14 footnotes, 10 bibliographic sources.   $63
 
02213. THOREAU'S WALDEN: "THE POET AND HERMIT." Critical analysis of the dialogue between the poet and the hermit in Walden. 5p. 6f. lb.   $35
 
01959. HUME'S CRITIQUE OF CAUSALITY AND KANT'S REPLY. Hume's attack on the notion of cause-and-effect relationships is analyzed and spelled out. Kant's reply with his theory of a priori knowledge as the basis of our concept of causality is seen as an example of the German ideal or "pure reason" 8 pages, 11 footnotes, 2 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
01363. MILLS AND THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY. The beliefs of the chief advocate of the ethical theory of utilitarianism are examined, and Mills' desire for human self-realization remarked upon. 3 pages, 2 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $21
 
01320. THOREAU AND SOCIETY. Good brief restatement of Thoreau's views on individual responsibilities to society, based on Walden and Civil Disobedience. 4p., footnotes imbedded in paper, 1b.   $28
 
01180. DESCARTES' DISCOURSE ON METHOD. A brief discussion of the guidelines of Descartes' moral philosophy. His principles are said to lead to extreme subjectivism, but his method of eliminating doubt is praised. 4 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $28
 
01072. DESCARTES. The French philosophers role as the father of modern philosophy is discussed; a brief biography and discussion of his basic ideas is included, and remarks on his influence on science and the history of Western thought are made. 4 pages, 9 footnotes, 3 bibliographic sources.   $28
 
00968. FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM. A wide-ranging discussion of the issue of free will versus determinism. The religious, philosophical and ethical implications of the question are raised, and a theological view is set against a purely philosophical approach. 8 pages, 8 footnotes, 2 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
00885. NIETZSCHE'S "MASTER MORALITY." A criticism of Nietzsche's attack on "goodness" as the basis of morality; the character of Gregor in Kafka's The Metamorphosis is analyzed in terms of his moral conscience, and Doyle in Miss Lonelyhearts is seen as an example of egoless "conscience". 8 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
00880. THE PRINCIPLE OF VERIFICATION. The spectrum of philosophical opinions on the principle of verifiability as a means of determining the truth of a statement is covered. Methods of verification are scrutinized in terms of their empirical possibilities. 7 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $49
 
00876. HEIDEGGER AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. Good presentation of the ideas of the only German philosopher more obscure and confusing than Hegel; concentrates on Heidegger's concept of "Dasein's" experience of objects "ready at hand" in the environment. 9 pages, 0 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source. (notes in text.)   $63
 
00875. KIERKEGAARD'S NOTION OF TRUTH. The distinction between the ethics of speculative philosophy and those of Christianity which Kierkegaard makes is viewed in terms of his tenet, "Truth is subjectivity", the Danish philosopher's criteria for truth are also discussed as ethical ideals. 10 pages, 0 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source.   $70
 
00874. HEIDEGGER: DASEIN AND DEATH. A summary of Part II of Heidegger's "Being and Time," discussing the problem of how a Being can experience Death, which is not-being; even the writer of the paper shows frustration at the conclusion. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source. Notes in text.   $35
 
00870. ANALYTIC TRUTHS AND A PRIORI KNOWLEDGE. A good general treatment of the question of a priori knowledge, criticizing the "tautology-as-analytic proposition" which has been used to build up a case for innate knowledge. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
00848. THE PRINCIPLE OF VERIFICATION IN LOGICAL POSITIVISM. The epistemological question of knowledge and the truth of the sense data is examined in the rational constructions of the logical positivists. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
00665. NECESSARY TRUTH AND UNIVERSALS. The philosophical methods of making synthetic and analytic judgements are discussed in terms of Knat's criteria for empirical truth. 5 pages, 2 footnotes, 2 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
00654. AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING BY DAVID HUME. A critical analysis of Hume's attack on belief and his elimination of metaphysics from epistemology. 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
00604. BERKELEY'S PHILOSOPHY. A general discussion of Berkeley's denial of the existence of sensible things in their own right, with a criticism of Berkeley' use of the word, "idea". 4 pages, 5 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source.   $28
 
00547. PROBLEMS OF ETHICS IN SCHLICK. The philosopher's refutation of the doctrine of absolute values is summarized, and his thinking on aesthetics reviewed. 3 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $21
 
00535. ANALYSIS OF KANT'S MORAL CONCEPT, THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE. As concise and clear an explanation of Kant's most famous concept, as the dense reasoning of the German philosopher will allow; how moral law compels us to choose right actions for their own sake, not for some idealistic end-product that never arrives anyway. 4 pages, 0 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source. (notes in text.)   $28
 
00400. PLEASURE AND GOODNESS. A comparison of the objections to pleasure as an end in itself, found in the philosophies of Plato and G. E. Moore. Hedonism and the philosophers' refutation of it are given a brief treatment. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
00399. GOOD AS AN END IN MOORE'S PHILOSOPHY. A general discussion of the concept of Good as end, relating to Moore's philosophy and the problem of objectivity in ethics. 8 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
00398. MOORE'S NOTION OF "GOOD." Moore's intuitive theory of the nature of the Good, as found in his Principia Ethica, is criticized on the basis of Moore's confusion of intrinsic goodness with "good as an end." 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
00397. MOORE'S ETHICS. A chapter-by-chapter analysis of the argument of Moore's book, with a detailed study of Moore's ideas on the rightness and wrongness of actions and a criticism of the overall theory. 8 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
00395. KANT'S ETHICS. An analysis of Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals, with a detailed discussion of Kant's concept of good will and its relation to duty and the law. 7 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $49
 
00302. BERKELEY AND HUME. The empiricist philosophies of the English 18th Century thinkers are contrasted with each other, in terms of metaphysics and ontology. 4 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $28
 
00278. NIETZSCHE'S MORAL THEORY. A brief summary of the history of moral theory, followed by an examination of Nietzsche's attack on the Judaeo-Christian ethic, Nietzsche is viewed as a logical development of the subjective tendency of l9th cent. existentialism and Protestant theology; his concept of the will is opposed to the "anti-natural morality" of the Christian ideal. 18 pages, 21 footnotes, 11 bibliographic sources.   $126
 
00268. ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. A general treatment of the analytic problem of God's existence, summarizing the basic arguments for and against; a brief essay on the impossibility of miracles and cause-effect relationships, and a discussion of the fallacy of trusting the senses. 9 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $63
 
00251. THE PHILOSOPHY OF NIETZSCHE. Very good, clear and insightful study of Nietzsche, beginning with his opposition to conventional morality and his notion of the superman who lives according to his own values;, also his idea of the importance of will and the idiocy of Christianity, his philosophy of history, and most importantly, the fact that Nietzsche exaggerates at times for rhetorical effect. 17 pages, 10 footnotes, 3 bibliographic sources.   $119
 
00248. HEGEL AND SELF-DECEPTION. Interesting, subjective argument by a Hegelian; uses example of his love fantasies for young woman, as proof that self-deception is produced by the active nature of consciousness and thus Hegel triumphs over English empiricist school of philosophy. Very complex vocabulary and arguments. 10p, 2f., 2b.   $70
 
00166. LEIBNIZ'S DISCOURSE ON METAPHYSICS. Possibility and freedom in the mind of God are discussed in this critique of the philosophy of Leibniz. The distinction between absolute and contingent necessity is discussed in terms of God's omniscience. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
00031. DESCARTES' MEDITATIONS CONCERNING THE FIRST PHILOSOPHY. A comprehensive study of Descartes' book, concentrating on the knowledge of the sciences and the means whereby Descartes ascertained its certainty. This essay includes a detailed discussion of will and understanding in a step-by-step analysis of the work, and a brief overview of Descartes in the history of philosophy and political theory. 17 pages, 13 footnotes, 3 bibliographic sources.   $119
 
53840. MAN, MIND AND BODY. A general discussion of some of the philosophical distinctions between mind and body that have arisen through the ages. Plato, Descartes, and several modern theorists are mentioned:. 6 pages, 1 footnote, 1 bibliographic source.   $42
 
53813. THE PHILOSOPHY OF NIETZSCHE. Good examination of Germany's most stimulating philosopher; good presentation of what he really meant by seeming to attack all culture, by calling Christianity a slave morality, and by hoping for the arrival of a superman. 9 pages, 9 footnotes, 8 bibliographic sources.,   $63
 
53660. NIETZSCHE CONTRA WAGNER. The break between the philosopher and the musician is discussed in terms of the philosophical differences on melodrama, Christian versus classic values, and their views on the nature of artistic creation. 8 pages, 18 footnotes, 6 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
53464. A COMPARISON OF SPINOZA WITH DESCARTES AND LEIBNITZ. Discussion of axiomatic principles and deductive conclusions in l7th Cent. philosophy; contrasts the consistency of Descartes and Leibnitz with the metaphysical and ethical contradictions found in Spinoza. 7 pages, 14 footnotes, 4 bibliographic sources.   $49
 
53370. KANT'S TRANSCENDENTAL APPERCEPTION. A clear summary of Chapter Two of the Critique of Pure Reason, giving Kant's conception of the mental processes of knowledge, how "transcendental apperception" (intellectual visualization) forms the basis of knowledge. 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source.   $42
 
53336. KANT'S CONCEPTION OF TIME. The notion of time as a property of human intuition found in Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is expounded. Time is seen as a subjective and a priori condition of human experience. 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
53039. MIND AND BODY IN DESCARTES, HUME, AND SMART. The theories of Cartesian dualism, Hume's notion of perception, and Smart's concept of sensations as brain processes are examined and compared. The views of the three philosophers are assessed and rejected as faulty views of sensory input. 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
52972. THE LIFE AND THOUGHT OF RENE DESCARTES. His career as a philosopher, soldier, mathematician and physicist is detailed. The key elements of his philosophy and major achievements in analytic geometry and physical science are also discussed. 6 pages, 9 footnotes, 9 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
52950. KIERKEGAARD AND BUDDHISM. A comparison of the thought of Kierkegaard with the concepts of Zen Buddhism, with respect,to original sin, the concept of dread, eternity and the Zen notion of Satori. 8 pages, 10 footnotes, 2 bibliographic sources.   $56
 
52929. THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA BY NIETZSCHE. The circumstances and ideas behind the writing of Nietzsche's masterwork are examined, and the book is given a chapter by chapter critique. The songs and poems are looked at in particular. 9p., 15., 2b.   $63
 
52751. KANT AND HEGEL'S HISTORICAL VIEWPOINTS. A brief analysis of the role of reason and logic in the historical philosophy of Kant and Hegel. Both are seen as naive and statist thinkers from a modern viewpoint. 3 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $21
 
52577. CARTESIAN REALMS OF MIND AND BODY. The problem of mind-body dualism in the philosophy of Descartes is discussed. The French philosopher's links to the Middle Ages and some of the problems with his proofs of God' s existence are also looked at. 6 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
52498. THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY. The development of the modern school of philosophy is traced from Descartes to Kant. The precursors of instinctual and rationalist thought are named, and the roots of pragmatism, idealism and realism are found in the work of Locke, Berkelry, Leibniz, Hume and Kant, who joined dogmatism and skepticism in the ground of modern empiricism. 11 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $77
 
52074. THE ORIGINS OF THE CONCEPT "GROUP" IN SOCIOLOGY. Discussion of the origins of sociology out of philosophy and political philosophy, but most attention is paid to the history of social inquiry (Plato-Augustine-Aquinas-Machiavelli-Hobbes-Locke and so on.) 6 pages, 19 footnotes, 19 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
52020. VOLTAIRE AND MONTESQUIEU. The views of the two philosophers on society, toleration, law, and justice are compared, and Voltaire is seen as less consistent and practical than Montesqueiu in his criticism of society. 6 pages, 3 footnotes, 2 bibliographic sources.   $42
 
51974. A DEFENSE OF MORALITY. The concept of man as a moral creature is treated in this essay on the evolution of ethical systems. The ideas of Plato, Aristotle, and Medieval and Modern philosophers are studied for their stand on the pursuit of virtue. Man is deemed a moral animal by nature, and the evolution of conscience and guilt are seen as social mechanisms where by we protect ourselves. 15p., l3f., 9b.   $105
 
51853. MORAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ARISTOTLE, DESCARTES, HUME, KANT AND SARTRE. The problem of moral responsibility in the ethical theories of five major philosophers is considered. The definitions of virtue, moral responsibility and good will in the works of each are given a brief examination. 10 pages, 14 footnotes, 10 bibliographic sources.   $70
 
51806. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN. The inquiry into the meaning of human existence is examined in the thought of Aristotle, Descartes, Hume and Sartre. An overview of the positive and negative aspects of human life is offered, with respect to the supernatural and social worlds. 11 pages, 3 footnotes, 4 bibliographic sources.   $77
 
51689. KIERKEGAARD ON ETHICS. A review of Kierkegaard's criticism or Hegel's ethical system, with a view to the nature of a new ethic of Christian belief. Problems of the defining relationship, the teleological suspension of the ethical, and experience versus conceptualization are dealt with. 10 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $70
 
51570. DESCARTES' THIRD MEDITATION. The proofs of God's existence in Descartes' work are given a nihilistic interpretation. The ideas of clarity, perfection and reality which Descartes uses are seen as ultimately unintelligible. 5 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $35
 
51507. SENSE-CERTAINTY IN HEGEL'S PHENOMENOLOGY OF MIND. An analysis of the chapter in Hegel's work in which he attempts, to ground idealistic dialectics in the real world of economic relationships. 3 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $21
 
51322. THEORETICAL ARCHEOLOGY. This research paper provides a very complete study of the objectives of archeology, and its development as a science. The paper covers archeology's relation to logical positivism in l9th century, rise of specialization in the field, functionalism in recent times, good discussion of the scientific method in archeology. Also covers guidelines for field work and dating techniques. KEYWORDS: theory archeology archeological methods. 27 pages, 31 footnotes, 19 bibliographic sources.   $133
 
16109. PRAGMATISM BY WILLIAM JAMES. A critical analysis of James' book, outlining the principles of pragmatism and the empiricism concepts of a procedural theory of meaning; the practical consequences of an act or idea are paramount. 7 pages, 9 footnotes, 4 bibliographic sources.   $49
 
16064. LOCKE'S ACCOUNT OF INDIRECT KNOWLEDGE BASED ON SIMPLE IDEAS. Locke's empiricism is judged to have been the basis for the later idealism, due to his insistence on the distinction between name and reality. The author disagrees with Locke's precepts. 4 pages, 0 footnotes, 0 bibliographic sources.   $28
 
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