Problems of Belief

by Ferdinand Canning Scott Schiller

194 pages, Hardcover

About the author

Ferdinand Canning Scott Schiller (August 16, 1864 - August 9, 1937) was a German-British philosopher. Born in Altona, Holstein (at that time member of the German Confederation, but under Danish administration), Schiller studied at the University of Oxford, and later was a professor there, after being invited back after a brief time at Cornell University. Later in his life he taught at the University of Southern California. In his lifetime he was well-known as a philosopher; after his death his work was largely forgotten.

Schiller's philosophy was very similar to and often aligned with the pragmatism of William James, although Schiller referred to it as "humanism". He argued vigorously against both logical positivism and associated philosophers (for example, Bertrand Russell) as well as absolute idealism (such as F.H. Bradley).

Schiller was an early supporter of evolution and a founding member of the English Eugenics Society.

Reviews

[loafingcactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous little outline of the issues of belief, including the intersections with truth and truth-value. It stands well to the test of time. Indeed, it exhibits a clarity to which present-day writers could aspire.