Naturalism and Agnosticism

Naturalism and Agnosticism is a book written by James Ward, a British philosopher, and psychologist. Published in 1899, the book explores the philosophical concepts of naturalism and agnosticism, which were popular during the late 19th century. In the book, Ward examines the fundamental principles of naturalism, which holds that the world can be explained solely through natural causes and laws, without the need for supernatural explanations. He also explores the concept of agnosticism, which asserts that it is impossible to know whether God or a higher power exists, and that such questions are beyond the scope of human knowledge.Ward's analysis of these two philosophical concepts is comprehensive and insightful, drawing on a wide range of sources from both the natural sciences and philosophy. He presents a nuanced and balanced view of the debates surrounding naturalism and agnosticism, acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of each position.Overall, Naturalism and Agnosticism is a thought-provoking and engaging work that remains relevant to contemporary debates in philosophy and science. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of these two fields and the fundamental questions they seek to answer.1906. This book contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the original works. Found within are the Gifford Lectures delivered before the University of Aberdeen in the years 1896-1898. These lectures do not form a systematic treatise. They only attempt to discuss in a popular way certain assumptions of modern science which have led to a widespread, but more or less tacit, rejection of idealistic views of the world. Partial Contents: mechanical theory; relation of abstract dynamics to actual phenomena; molecular mechanics its indirectness; molecular mechanics, ideals or matter; theory of energy; mechanical evolution; biological evolution; theory of psychophysical parallelism; conscious automation theory; refutation of dualism; experience as life; unity of individual and universal experience; spiritualistic monism.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.