Philosophers Speak for Themselves: From Descartes to Locke
(
Modern thought and modes of living have been immeasurab...)
Modern thought and modes of living have been immeasurably influenced by the philosophers of the Enlightenment—men such as Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Newton, Leibniz, and Locke. Gathered together in this book and preceded by valuable biographical sketches are selections from the basic and most significant writings of each of these men.
Philosophers Speak for Themselves: Berkeley, Hume, and Kant (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Philosophers Speak for Themselves: Berkeley,...)
Excerpt from Philosophers Speak for Themselves: Berkeley, Hume, and Kant
Acknowledgment is made to the Open Court Publishing Company for the translation of Kant's Prolegomena.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Thomas Vernor Smith was an American philosopher, political scientist, miitary and politician.
Background
Thomas was born on April 26, 1890 in Blanket, Texas, United States, the son of John Robert Smith, a poor farmer who had no more than a third-grade education, and of Mary Elizabeth Graves, who probably had not completed the first grade. His mother died when he was nine years old, and as the oldest son, he was called upon to do a man's work from the age of twelve.
Education
His secondary schooling was very limited, but he read avidly and memorized poems, hymns, and whole books of the Bible. This talent for memorization and for recitation later distinguished his public speaking style.
At the age of twenty-three, Smith was admitted to the University of Texas, from which he graduated with the B. A. two years later (1915). His dissertation, "The American Doctrine of Equality, " was accepted in 1922 by the philosophy department of University of Chicago, and it awarded him a Ph. D.
Career
Smith was appointed professor of English and was head of the English department at Texas Christian University in 1915-1916, and in 1916 received the M. A. in English literature from Texas. In 1916-1917 Smith taught philosophy at Texas Christian.
On September 3, 1918, Smith entered the U. S. Army as a private. He was discharged in January 1919.
From 1919 to 1921 he was an instructor in philosophy at the University of Texas. In the latter year he entered the graduate program at the University of Chicago, and was appointed instructor in philosophy. He remained at Chicago for twenty-six years: as dean of the College of Liberal Arts (1923 - 1926), as associate dean (1926 - 1927), and as professor of philosophy (1927 - 1948). In 1934 he published three books: Beyond Conscience, Creative Sceptics, and Philosophers Speak for Themselves.
Smith was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1934. While in the legislature he drafted a bill creating a legislative council to scrutinize and make recommendations on proposed legislation. He was chairman of the newly created legislative council in 1937-1938. In 1938, Smith was elected a Democratic congressman at large from Illinois. He was not to be reelected.
During World War II, Smith served in the U. S. Army as a lieutenant colonel, and as a colonel from June 1, 1943 to February 28, 1946. He was director of education of the Allied Control Commission in Italy in 1944, and the following year he was director of democratization for German prisoners of war. In 1946, Smith served on the U. S. Education Mission to Japan and, later, to Germany. He left the University of Chicago in 1948 to become Maxwell professor of citizenship and philosophy at the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
He retired in 1956. He died in Hyattsville, Maryland, United States.
He supported the policies of the Roosevelt administration.
Views
Smith thought, that the democratic process depends on the willingness of people to compromise when they are in basic disagreement. An emphasis on the process of compromise as the proper way of settling issues is found in many of his books, where the way of doing things takes on special importance. Smith was optimistic about the future of democracy.
Personality
Smith was an effective public speaker and debater. He was a man of great drive and stamina.
Connections
On June 6, 1917, he married Nannie Stewart, his childhood sweetheart. They had two children.