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The Human Situation
Originally published in the late 1930's, 'The Human Situation'; was written by W. Macneile Dixon, a great philosopher in his time. The book comprises the Gifford Lectures delivered at the University of Glasgow between 1935 and 1937, and will prove a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in philosophy. The most singular and deepest themes in the History of the Universe and Mankind, to which all the rest are subordinate, are those in which there is a conflict between Belief and Unbelief, and all epochs, wherein Belief prevails, under, what form it will, are splendid, heart-elevating and fruitful...
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 1981
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About the author
William Macneile Dixon
57 books2 followersWilliam Macneile Dixon (1866–1946) was a British author and academic.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 5, 2024
Without question one of the most dazzling and mind-boggling books I have had the pleasure to tease my way through. Took a long time, too.
Impossible to characterize or abbreviate. WMD takes 400 pages of closely argued, brilliantly polymathic, take-no-hostages argument to establish his vision of the human situation. Intrigued? You should be. Want to know more? You'll have to devote somewhere in the region of 40 focussed hours to the task. It's worth it.
A quiver of quotes:
"I do not propose to apologise for these errors. I have never believed in excuses, and I have hopes that they may possibly in a measure cancel each other out. Were it possible I should gladly avoid the Chinese puzzle of metaphysics. Alas, we cannot. For, however little we are conscious of it, we are one and all metaphysicians, good or bad, generally indeed bad, yet inveterate metaphysicians."
"Our desires attract supporting reasons as a magnet iron filings."
"Life is a unique experience. There is nothing with which to compare it, no measure of its value in terms of some other thing, and money will not purchase it. Yet with this pearl of price we know not what to do."
“When you come to me with your explanations of all the world contains I am profoundly interested. Not, indeed, in your explanations, which are, of course, like all others, supremely ridiculous, but in the bright eyed simplicity of the human mind, and its explanatory prattle.”
“Miracles? For my part I see miracles everywhere. I see nothing but works of magic. Miracles are not rare birds. They fly in flocks, they darken the air in their multitudes. So much for miracles. Nature is not natural, but supernatural …”
“As well might a moth attempt to understand a man as a man a moth.”
There's a gem on every page.
Does he believe in God? Not sure, but he believes in more than just Man.
Impossible to characterize or abbreviate. WMD takes 400 pages of closely argued, brilliantly polymathic, take-no-hostages argument to establish his vision of the human situation. Intrigued? You should be. Want to know more? You'll have to devote somewhere in the region of 40 focussed hours to the task. It's worth it.
A quiver of quotes:
"I do not propose to apologise for these errors. I have never believed in excuses, and I have hopes that they may possibly in a measure cancel each other out. Were it possible I should gladly avoid the Chinese puzzle of metaphysics. Alas, we cannot. For, however little we are conscious of it, we are one and all metaphysicians, good or bad, generally indeed bad, yet inveterate metaphysicians."
"Our desires attract supporting reasons as a magnet iron filings."
"Life is a unique experience. There is nothing with which to compare it, no measure of its value in terms of some other thing, and money will not purchase it. Yet with this pearl of price we know not what to do."
“When you come to me with your explanations of all the world contains I am profoundly interested. Not, indeed, in your explanations, which are, of course, like all others, supremely ridiculous, but in the bright eyed simplicity of the human mind, and its explanatory prattle.”
“Miracles? For my part I see miracles everywhere. I see nothing but works of magic. Miracles are not rare birds. They fly in flocks, they darken the air in their multitudes. So much for miracles. Nature is not natural, but supernatural …”
“As well might a moth attempt to understand a man as a man a moth.”
There's a gem on every page.
Does he believe in God? Not sure, but he believes in more than just Man.
Displaying 1 of 1 review