Character And Opinion In The United States [Hardcover]

George Santayana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2008

CHARACTER amp OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH REMINISCENCES OF WILLIAM JAMES AND JOSIAH ROYCE AND ACADEMIC LIFE IN AMERICA BY GEORGE SANTAYANA LATE PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY PREFACE THE major part of this book is composed of lectures originally addressed to British audiences. I have added a good deal, but I make no apology, now that the whole may fall under American eyes, for preserving the tone and attitude of a detached observer. Not at all on the ground that " to see ourselves as others see us " would be to see ourselves truly on the contrary, I with SpintDza where he says that other people's idea of a man is apt to be a better expression of their nature than of his. I accept this principle in the present instance, and am willing it should be applied to the judgements contained in this book, in which the reader may see chiefly expressions of my own feelings and hints of my own opinions. Only an American and I am not one except by long association I can speak for the heart Perhaps I should add that I have not been in the United States since January 1912, My observations stretched, with some intervals, through the forty years preceding that date. of America. I try to understand it, as a family friend may who has a different temperament but it is only my own mind that I speak for at bottom, or wish to speak fof. Certainly my sentiments are of little importance compared with the volume and destiny of the things I discuss here : yet the critic and artist too have their rights, and to take as calm and as long a view as possible1 seems to be but another name for the love of truth. Moreover, I suspect that my feelings are secretly shared by many people in America, natives and foreigners, who may not have the courage or the occasion to Express them frankly. After all, it has been acquaintance with America and American philosophers that has chiefly contributed to clear and to settle my own mind. I have no axe to grind, only my thoughts to burnish, in the hope that some part of the truth of things may be reflected there and I am confident of not giving serious offence to the judicious, because they will feel that it is affection for the American people that makes me wish that what is best and most beautiful should not be absent from their lives. Civilisation is perhaps approaching one of those long winters that overtake it from time to time. A flood of barbarism from below may soon level all the fair works of our CJnristian ancestors, as another flood two thousand years ago levelled those of the ancients. Romantic Christendom picturesque, passionate, unhappy episode may be coming to an end. Such a catastrophe would be no reason for despair. Nothing lasts for ever but the elasticity of life is wonderful, and even if the world lost its memory it could not lose its youth. Under the deluge, and watered by it, seeds of all sorts would survive against the time to come, even if what might eventually spring from them, under the new circumstances, should wear a strange aspect.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Santayana (1863-1952) was a professor of philosophy at Harvard University. Expressing a theme that remained a lifelong characteristic, he explains why he gave up “academic lumber” and went into retirement. The pursuit of pure philosophy became his revolt against intellectual dissolution and anarchy. His writings were substantial, including a five-volume work, The Life of Reason, and a four-volume work,Realms of Being.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Hesperides Press (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1443722839
• ISBN-13: 978-1443722834
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,126,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the art of Santayana, November 21, 2000

By 

Greg Nyquist (Eureka, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Character and Opinion in the United States (Library of Conservative Thought) (Paperback)

For those who have never read Santayana, this is as good a place to start as any. The book begins with the essay "A Brief History of my Opinions," which is as good an introduction to Santayana's thought as you are likely to find. After Santayana's once famous essay on the Genteel Tradition in American Philosophy, we come across two critical essays on William James and Josiah Royce. There are no two finer critical essays in philosophy. Santayana combines a symphathetic portrayal of the personalities (he knew both men, having studied under them at Harvard) with a devestating (though very polite) dissection of their specious views. Of James, he writes, "Philosophy to him was rather like a maze in which he happened to find himself wandering, and what he was looking for was a way out." Santayana's treats Royce's dreadful hegelianism with appropriate irony, pointing out the clash between Royce's practical good sense and his absurd philosophical views. But perhaps the best essay in the entire collection is the one entitled "The Genteel Tradition at Bay," where Santayana makes mincemeat of the so-called "new humanists." Santayana especially focuses his critical attention on their moral absolutism, which he demonstrates is self-contradictory and unfeasible. "Call it humanism or not, only a morality frankly relative to man's nature is worthy of man, being at once vital and rational, martial and generous," writes Santayana; "whereas absolutism smells of fustiness as well as of faggots." Santayana's philosophical reflections are not merely brilliant reasoned and beautifully written: they also gives us what is so conspicuously missing in the reflections of most other modern philosophers--namely, wisdom. His works cannot be recommended highly enough.