School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Theses
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ItemThe logic of Darwinism( 1970)Whether or not we accept all the details of Thomas Kuhn's thesis concerning the nature of scientific revolutions, it would seem that Kuhn has at least shown that the development of a science in periods of normal science differs from the development of a science in periods of crisis science. Usually a crisis in a particular science is settled by the introduction and general acceptance of a new theory, or initially by the acceptance of some dramatic modification of the existing theory.
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ItemRealist epistemology in Christian philosophy( 1953)I propose in this thesis to show that the Idealist Epistemology does not allow for the essentials of Christianity and that, on the contrary, a Realist epistemology does make it possible to accept Christianity without any contradiction being involved. To achieve this, I shall first state the philosophy of John Caird who attempted to start with Idealism and end with a philosophy of religion; then I shall examine the conclusions and implications of Caird, comparing them with the writings of other Idealist thinkers, and show wherein they fail to meet the needs of Christian thinkers. This, of course, is no proof of the falsity of their thinking but I shall, after a short section on the historical change from Idealism to Realism, follow with a statement of the Realist epistemology which I hold to be necessary to describe and clarify our experience. The position which I will advocate will be that generally described as. Critical Realism but it will include a section on our knowledge of persons which is relevant in any religious thought which takes account of a personal God, as well as some account of error and the occurrence of error which is relevant to the question of the place of evil in our experience. Finally I shall make a statement of the points of Christian doctrine which I consider to be vitally affected by epistemology and I shall endeavour to show that, under Realism, both Christian needs and our experience can be adequately stated. This is not to say. that Christianity is a necessary conclusion but only that Christianity does not preclude one from being a realist and that realism does not preclude one from being a Christian.
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ItemThe eternal thou : an examination of some religious statements( 1956)This thesis was planned to be an examination of certain work in the philosophy of religion. It was to consider the writings on this subject since 1945 of that group of philosophers usually known as Linguistic Analysts or Logical Analysts; that is, those who philosophise more or less in the manner of Wittgenstein, Wisdom and Ryle. I need a name for this group, and so I shall henceforth call them "analysts" , in spite of their understandable objections to being grouped together or labelled at all.
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ItemPhilosophical problems of political utopianism( 1978)What are the philosophical problems of political utopianism? Primarily, what is the nature of a philosophical problem as distinguished from a practical problem? A philosophical problem is basically a conceptual problem. The major part of this thesis is concerned with clearing up certain conceptual contradictions and anomalies which are associated with the notion of utopia. Of course, one may say that a political utopia his no philosophical problems. One may simply describe a certain state of affairs as a political utopia and/or one may state the nature of the practical problems which stand in the way. In Sir Thomas More's work, for example, we have the description of a utopia. On the other hand, Proudhon and Hari argue respectively that the institutions of private property and capital stand in the way of attaining utopia. The philosopher, however, is net satisfied with this approach. He is concerned with the general notion of utopia and the conceptual problems which are involved in this notion. After distinguishing utopianism from other such notions as may appear to have certain resemblances with it, the philosopher is still left with a number of basic problems. In the first chapter of this thesis, I deal with the definition of utopia as an ideal imaginary state. The types of conceptual problems which arise ore ones which concern the nature of imagination and the relation between the imaginary and the real, the notion of the ideal state, and the relation between value-judgements and actions. In chapter 2, I try to distinguish utopian thought from millennial oschatology and ideology. In this chapter I also suggest that Marx was a type. of utopian thinker in spite of his well known claim to the contrary. The, evidence for this conclusion is based on Marx's vision of a future classless society in which the worker is no longer alienated. I also examine the flaws in the Marxist methodology of scientifically arriving at a future society. I suggest that Marx's expectations are as much based on faith as that of a utopian thinker. I also consider in this chapter the utopianism of Sir Thomas More, and certain anarchist thinkers. Marx's claim that his critique is based on a scientific explanation of society is examined in detail in chapter 3 which also discusses the larger issue of explaining men and society in terms of laws as conceived in the natural sciences. To what extent is a science of society modelled on the natural sciences feasible or philosophically meaningful? Would such a science help us to understand the motives and actions of human individuals in society? Is the method of historical determinism or dialectics as proposed by Marx and Engels essential, or oven relevant, to utopia? I also briefly consider in this chapter the relevance of structuralist anthropology to our understanding of utopia. In chapter 4 I consider the view of earlier utopians that the institutions of property and the centralised state are the main obstacles to the establishment of a just society or utopia. The arguments of Proudhon against private property are discussed in some detail, especially his contention that abolition of this institution is essential to any utopia. According to him, utopians should focus on this institution rather than on the state. I also discuss the bearing of alienation, human rights, property and the state on a theory of utopia. I have not attempted to of for in this thesis a utopia of my own, or any historical survey of. various utopias. Instead, I have raised and discussed what I consider to be some of the philosophical issues that have bearing on utopia as a concept. Y hope my treatment is lucid, and makes some useful contribution to our understanding,of an important theme. In my conclusion I have tried to show how the various ideas, issues and arguments which are raised in successive chapters are related to the central notion of utopia.
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ItemRicour, Freud and interpretation( 1978)
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ItemLogical principles of scientific inference( 1972)In this essay my aim is to explicate and vindicate the method of ampliative inference which constitutes the basis of scientific and, indeed, of all critical and disciplined reasoning.
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ItemFacts and values( 1964)
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