The Place of John Anderson in the History of Philosophy

Abstract

The issue of the place of John Anderson in the history of philosophy requires both historical and philosophical consideration. The historical issue of Anderson's place in the history of philosophy involves the consideration of the general issue of philosophical history as the conflict between Idealism and Realism and the particular issue of philosophic biography as the development of Anderson's philosophy throughout his lifetime. The presentation of Anderson's philosophical development is in terms of a Realist treatment of metaphysics, aesthetics and ethics in terms of certain periods in Anderson's lite, concluding with an account of Anderson's mature philosophical views as a,systematic and historical theory of philosophy. The philosophical issue of Anderson's place in the history of philosophy involves the consideration of the particular issue of a systematic and critical exposition of Anderson 's philosophy as a Realist philosophy and the general issue of the development of Anderson's philosophy in terms of the issue of the logical relation between Realism and Idealism. Having considered these historical and philosophical issues, it is then possible to determine Anderson's p1ace in the history of philosophy.