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Modern French Philosophy Modern French Philosophy J. Alexander Gunn Modern French Philosophy Table of Contents Modern French Philosophy......................................................................................................................................1 J. Alexander Gunn..........................................................................................................................................1 FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................................2 PREFACE......................................................................................................................................................3 CHAPTER I. ANTECEDENTS....................................................................................................................4 CHAPTER II. MAIN CURRENTS.............................................................................................................13 CHAPTER III. SCIENCE............................................................................................................................37 CHAPTER IV. FREEDOM.........................................................................................................................52 CHAPTER V. PROGRESS.........................................................................................................................65 CHAPTER VI. ETHICS..............................................................................................................................83 CHAPTER VII. RELIGION......................................................................................................................101 CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................................120 i Modern French Philosophy J. Alexander Gunn This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com • FOREWORD • PREFACE • CHAPTER I. ANTECEDENTS • CHAPTER II. MAIN CURRENTS • CHAPTER III. SCIENCE • CHAPTER IV. FREEDOM • CHAPTER V. PROGRESS • CHAPTER VI. ETHICS • CHAPTER VII. RELIGION • CONCLUSION First published in 1922. (All rights reserved)* MODERN FRENCH PHILOSOPHY: A study of the Development since Comte. By J. ALEXANDER GUNN, M.A., PH.D. Fellow of the University of Liverpool; Lecturer in Psychology to the Liverpool University Extension Board WITH A FOREWORD BY HENRI BERGSON de l'Academic francaise et de l'Academie des Sciences morales et politiques T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD. LONDON: ADELPHI TERRACE TO MY TEACHER ALEXANDER MAIR Modern French Philosophy 1 Modern French Philosophy PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL AS A SMALL TOKEN OF ESTEEM AND AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS INSTRUCTION "MAIS il n'y a pas que cette France, que cette France glorieuse, que cette France révolutionnaire, cette France émancipatrice et initiatrice du genre humain, que cette France d'une activité merveilleuse et comme on l'a dit, cette France nourrie des idées générales du monde, il y a une autre France que je n'aime pas moins, une autre France qui m'est encore plus chère, c'est la France misérable, c'est la France vaincue et humiliée, c'est la France qui est accablée, c'est la France qui traîne son boulet depuis quatorze siècles, la France qui crie, suppliante vers la justice et vers la liberté, la France que les despotes poussent constamment sur les champs de bataille, sous prétexte de liberté, pour lui faire verser son sang par toutes les artères et par toutes les veines, oh! cette France−là, je l'aime."GAMBETTA, Discours, 29 September , 1872. "Les jeunes gens de tous les pays du monde qui sont venus dans les campagnes de France combattre pour la civilisation et le droit seront sans doute plus disposés à y revenir, apres la guerre chercher la nourriture intellectuelle. Il importe qu'ils soient assurés de l'y trouver, saine, abondante et forte."M. D. PARODI, Inspecteur de l'Académie de Paris, 1919. FOREWORD JE serais heureux que le public anglais sût le bien que je pense du livre de M. Gunn, sur la philosophie francaise depuis 1851. Le sujet choisi est neuf, car il n'existe pas, à ma connaissance, d'ouvrage relatif à toute cette période de la philosophie française. Le beau livre que M. Parodi vient de publier en français traite surtout des vingt dernières années de notre activité philosophique. M. Gunn, remontant jusqu'à Auguste Comte, a eu raison de placer ainsi devant nous toute le seconde moitié du siècle passé. Cette période de cinquante ans qui a précédée notre vingtième siècle est d'une importance capitale. Elle constitue réellement notre dix−neuvième siècle philosophique, car l'oeuvre même de Maine de Biran, qui est antérieure, n'a été bien connue et étudiée qu'à ce moment, et la plupart de nos idées philosophiques actuelles ont été élaborées pendant ces cinquante ans. Le sujet est d'ailleurs d'une complication extrême, en raison du nombre et de la variété des doctrines, en raison surtout de la diversité des questions entre lesquelles se sont partagés tant de penseurs. Dr. Gunn a su ramener toutes ces questions à un petit nombre de problèmes essentiels : la science, la liberté, le progrès, la morale, la religion. Cette division me paraît heureuse. Elle répond bien, ce me semble, aux principales préoccupations de la philosophie francaise. Elle a permis à l'auteur d'être complet, tout en restant simple, clair, et facile à suivre. Elle présente, il est vrai, un inconvénient, en ce qu'elle morcelle la doctrine d'un auteur en fragments dont chacun, pris à part, perd un peu de sa vitalite et de son individualité. Elle risque ainsi de présenter comme trop semblable à d'autres la solution que tel philosophe a donnée de tel problème, solution qui, replacée dans l'ensemble de la doctrine, apparaîtrait comme propre à ce penseur, originale et plus forte. Mais cet inconvénient était inévitable et l'envers de l'avantage que je signalais plus haut, celui de l'ordre, de la continuité et de la clarté. Le travail du Dr. Gunn m'apparaît comme tout à fait distingué. Il témoigne d'une information singulièrement étendue, précise et sûre. C'est l'oeuvre d'un esprit d'une extrême souplesse, capable de s'assimiler vite et bien la pensée des philosophes, de classer les idées dans leur ordre d'importance, de les exposer méthodiquement et les apprécier à leur juste valeur. H. Bergson FOREWORD 2 Modern French Philosophy [These pages are a revised extract from the more formal Rapport which was presented by M. Bergson to the University of Liverpool]. PREFACE THIS work is the fruit of much reading and research done in Paris at the Sorbonne and Bibliothèque nationale. It is, substantially, a revised form of the thesis presented by the writer to the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy, obtained in 1921. The author is indebted, therefore, to the University for permission to publish. More especially must he record his deep gratitude to the French thinkers who gave both stimulus and encouragement to him during his sojourn in Paris. Foremost among these is M. Henri Bergson, upon whose rapport the Doctorate was conferred, and who has expressed his appreciation of the work by contributing a Foreword for publication. Mention must also be made of the encouragement given by the late M. Emile Boutroux and by the eminent editor of the well−known Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale, M. Xavier Léon, a leading spirit in the Société de Philosophie, whose meetings the writer was privileged to attend by invitation. Then MM. Brunschvicg, Levy− Bruhl, Lalande, Rey and Lenoir, from time to time discussed the work with him and he must record his appreciation of their kindness. To Professor Mair of Liverpool is due the initial suggestion, and it has been felt a fitting tribute to his supervision, criticism, encouragement and sympathy that this book should be respectfully dedicated to him by one of his grateful pupils. In the labour of dealing with the proofs, the writer has to acknowledge the co−operation of Miss M. Linn and Mr. J. E. Turner, M.A. * * * * * The method adopted in this history has been deliberately chosen for its usefulness in emphasising the development of ideas. A purely chronological method has not been followed. The biographical system has likewise been rejected. The history of the development of thought centres round problems, and it progresses in relation to these problems. The particular manner in which the main problems presented themselves to the French thinkers of the second half of the nineteenth century was largely determined by the events and ideas which marked the period from 1789 to 1851. For this reason a chapter has been devoted to Antecedents. Between the Revolution and the coup d'état of Napoleon III., four distinct lines of thought are discernible. Then the main currents from the year 1851 down to 1921 are described, with special reference to the development of the main problems. The reconciliation of science and conscience proved to be the main general problem, which became more definitely that of Freedom. This in itself is intimately bound up with the doctrines of progress, of history, of ethics and religion. These topics are discussed in a manner which shows their bearing upon each other. The conclusion aims at displaying the characteristics of French thought which reveal themselves in the study of these great problems. Its vitality, concreteness, clearness, brilliance and precision are noted and a comparison made between French thought and German philosophy. From a
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