Some problems of philosophy : a beginning of an introduction to philosophy / by William James.

  • William James
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some problems of philosophy : a beginning of an introduction to philosophy / by William James. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFATORY NOTE For several years before his death Professor Wil- liam James cherished the purpose of stating his views on certain problems of metaphysics in a book addressed particularly to readers of phi- losophy. He began the actual writing of this ‘introductory text-book for students in metaphys- ics, as he once called it, in March, 1909, and to complete it was at last his dearest ambition. But illness, and other demands on his diminished strength, continued to interfere, and what is now published is all that he had succeeded in writing when he died in August, 1910. Two typewritten copies of his unfinished manu- script were found. They had been corrected sep- arately. A comparison of the independent alter- ations in the two copies showed few and slight differences of phrase and detail, and indicated no formed intention to make substantial changes; yet the author perhaps expected to make some further alterations in a final revision if he could finish the book, for in a memorandum dated July 26, 1910, in which he directed the publication of the manu- script, he wrote: ‘Say wz is fragmentary and unre- vised.’ This memorandum continues, ‘Call it “A begin-
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