The Roycean Pragmatic

Abstract

Since the purpose of this interpretive study of Roycean philosophy was to convey certain of his views as clearly and objectively as possible, his own texts have been employed rather liberally, and no attempt has been made to subject those views to a close developmental or consistent criticism. The aim in such an approach was to afford the ideas of Royce as sympathetic a hearing as possible, so that those which are of worth might not be sloughed aside because others are judged unacceptable. At this point, however, some sifting is in order, so that we may gather together those notions in Royce that are presently most pertinent. Accordingly, our final chapter shall include some form of summary and critique before specifying the result of the preceding considerations.

N.B. Specific references in this chapter are given within the text itself, using the abbreviations employed in the Notes. The intent is thus to avoid excessive documentation, while indicating, through a comparison of the sources, the progress of the pragmatic element in Royce’s thought.