Josiah Royce
Josiah Royce
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Josiah Royce was born as Josiah Clark Royce on November 20, 1855, in Marysville, California. He is commonly known by his pen name, "J.C.R.".
Birth and Death Dates
Born: November 20, 1855
Died: September 14, 1916
Nationality and Profession(s)
Royce was an American philosopher, logician, and mystic. He taught philosophy at various institutions, including Harvard University, where he became a renowned professor.
Early Life and Background
Josiah Royce grew up in California during the Gold Rush era. His father, William D. Royce, was a Presbyterian minister who instilled in his son a strong sense of faith and moral values. The young Josiah demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities from an early age and went on to study philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley.
Major Accomplishments
Royce is best known for his philosophical work on idealism, pragmatism, and social metaphysics. He made significant contributions to the development of American philosophy, influencing thinkers such as John Dewey and George Herbert Mead. His magnum opus, The World and the Individual (1900-1902), is a comprehensive treatment of his philosophical system.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works by Royce include:
_The Conception of Faith_ (1897) - an exploration of the nature of faith and its relationship to reason
_The Problem of Christianity_ (1913) - a philosophical analysis of Christian theology and ethics
_The Sources of Religious Insight_ (1916) - a study on the origins and development of religious ideasImpact and Legacy
Josiah Royce's philosophy has had a lasting impact on various fields, including:
Pragmatism: His work laid the groundwork for American pragmatism, emphasizing the practical application of knowledge.
Social Metaphysics: He developed a metaphysical framework that prioritized social relationships and collective experiences.
Religious Thought: Royce's philosophical treatments of faith and Christianity continue to influence theological debates.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Josiah Royce is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Innovative Philosophical Ideas: His contributions to idealism, pragmatism, and social metaphysics have shaped the trajectory of American philosophy.
Moral and Ethical Commitments: Royce's emphasis on the importance of moral values and personal responsibility continues to inspire thinkers today.
* Visionary Teachings: His lectures at Harvard University were highly regarded for their clarity and insight, earning him a reputation as an exceptional educator.
Royce's philosophical legacy extends beyond his written works; he has inspired generations of scholars and thinkers. His impact on American philosophy remains significant, with his ideas influencing fields such as pragmatism, social metaphysics, and religious thought.
Quotes by Josiah Royce
But you are alone. Yet I never tell what you are. And if your face lights up my world as no other can – well, this feeling too, when viewed as the mere psychologist has to view it, appears to be simply what all the other friends report about their friends.
By an individual being, whatever one’s metaphysical doctrine, one means an unique being, that is, a being which is alone of its own type, or is such that no other of its class exists.
If usually the “present age” is no very long time, still, at our pleasure, or in the service of some such unity of meaning as thehistory of civilization, or the study of geology, may suggest, we may conceive the present as extending over many centuries, or over a hundred thousand years.
Man you can define; but the true essence of any man, say, for instance, of Abraham Lincoln, remains the endlessly elusive and mysterious object of the biographer’s interest, of the historian’s comments, of popular legend, and of patriotic devotion.
We seek true individuality and the true individuals. But we find them not. For lo, we mortals see what our poor eyes can see; and they, the true individuals, – they belong not to this world of our merely human sense and thought.
Unless you can find some sort of LOYALTY, you cannot find unity and peace in your active living.
Listen to any musical phrase or rhythm, and grasp it as a whole, and you thereupon have present in you the image, so to speak, of the divine knowledge of the temporal order.
Memory and hope constantly incite us to the extensions of the self which play so large a part in our daily life.