F. H. Bradley
F. H. Bradley epistemic coherentism[1] |
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Francis Herbert Bradley
Life
Bradley was born at
During his life, Bradley was a respected philosopher and was granted honorary degrees many times. He was the first British philosopher to be awarded the
Philosophy
Bradley rejected the
In 1909, Bradley published an essay entitled "On Truth and Coherence" in the journal Mind (reprinted in Essays on Truth and Reality). The essay criticises a form of infallibilist foundationalism in epistemology. The philosopher Robert Stern has argued that in this paper Bradley defends coherence not as an account of justification but as a criterion or test for truth.[6]
Bradley also defends a novel theory of
Moral philosophy
Bradley's view of morality was driven by his criticism of the idea of self used in the current utilitarian theories of ethics.[9] He addressed the central question of "Why should I be moral?"[10]
He opposed individualism, instead defending the view of self and morality as essentially social. Bradley held that our moral duty was founded on the need to cultivate our ideal "good self" in opposition to our "bad self".[11] However, he acknowledged that society could not be the source of our moral life, of our quest to realise our ideal self. For example, some societies may need moral reform from within, and this reform is based on standards which must come from elsewhere than the standards of that society.[12]
He made the best of this admission in suggesting that the ideal self can be realised through following religion.[13]
His views of the social self in his moral theorising are relevant to the views of Fichte, George Herbert Mead, and pragmatism. They are also compatible with modern views such as those of Richard Rorty and anti-individualism approaches.[14]
Legacy
Bradley's philosophical reputation declined greatly after his death. British idealism was practically eliminated by
In 1914, a then-unknown
Books and publications
- The Presuppositions of Critical History (1874), Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1968. (1874 edition)
- Ethical Studies, (1876), Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927, 1988. (1876 edition)
- The Principles of Logic (1883), London: Oxford University Press, 1922. (Volume 1)/(Volume 2)
- Appearance and Reality (1893), London: S. Sonnenschein; New York: Macmillan. (1916 edition)
- Essays on Truth and Reality, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1914.
- Aphorisms, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1930.
- Collected Essays, vols. 1–2, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1935.
See also
References
- ^ a b Coherentism in Epistemology (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- ^ Campbell, Charles Arthur (The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Philosophy)
- ^ James Ward (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- ISBN 0-297-77018-7.
- ^ Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900–1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 1.
- JSTOR 40040722.
- ^ Pg. 210. Bradley, F. H. Essay. “On Truth and Coherence,” in Essays on Truth and Reality. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962.
- ^ Pg. 90. The Presuppositions of Critical History by F. H. Bradley, ed. Rubinoff, Lionel. J. M. Dent & Sons (Canada) Limited. 1968.
- ^ preface, Ethical studies: selected essays, G Herbert Bradley Liberal Arts Press, 1951
- ^ Ethical studies: selected essays, G Herbert Bradley Liberal Arts Press, 1951 p6.
- ^ Ethical studies: selected essays, G Herbert Bradley Liberal Arts Press, 1951, p153
- ^ Francis Herbert Bradley (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- ^ Ethical studies: selected essays, G Herbert Bradley Liberal Arts Press, 1951, final essay: Selfishness and self-sacrifice
- ^ Goldberg, Sanford (2007). Anti-individualism: mind and language, knowledge and justification. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- ISBN 1402009887.
- ^ Kenner, Hugh (1959). Bradley. From The Invisible Poet. New York: Ivan Obolensky.
External links
- Candlish, Stewart. "Francis Herbert Bradley". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Babushkina, Stewart; Crossley, David. "Bradley's Moral Philosophy". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Encyclopædia Britannica
- Selected essays from Ethical Studies
- Online text of Appearance and Reality
- Francis Herbert Bradley, An Unpublished Note on Christian Morality on AnthonyFlood.com
- Summaries of F.H. Bradley's ethical arguments
- Selected Recordings of F.H. Bradley's Writings