Summary
This book's central argument, as presented through its content, concerns the nature of knowledge and the philosophical distinction between a priori and a posteriori reasoning. It explains that a priori judgments are considered independent of experience and inherent to thought, while a posteriori judgments are derived from observation. The book posits that while the empiricist approach relies on particulars and offers probability, necessity is intellectual or "transcendental." It argues that empirical knowledge contains an intellectual element essential for correlating data, and that all judgments, however simple, imply a correlation.
The work addresses the ongoing philosophical debate between "Intuitionalists" (a priori) and "Empiricists" (a posteriori), suggesting that these schools often misunderstand each other. It posits that knowledge derived from particulars and knowledge of laws or causes operate in different, yet complementary, spheres. The book also touches upon historical events like the "Alabama" Arbitration, highlighting its significance as an example of arbitration averting war and the diplomatic principles involved in agreeing on governing rules for such proceedings.
Key concepts
- A priori — Judgments regarded as independent of experience and belonging to the essence of thought.
- A posteriori — Judgments derived from particular observations.
- Arbitration, International — A process for settling disputes between states, exemplified by the "Alabama" claims.
- Empirical knowledge — Knowledge based on observation and particulars, which the book argues includes an intellectual element.
- Necessity — A concept described as purely intellectual or "transcendental," as opposed to probability derived from observation.
From the book
For other versions of this work, see Encyclopædia Britannica . ← 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica ( 1911 ) Title page → related portals : Reference Works Shortcut : EB11 or EB1911 Notes on reading the Wikisource edition . A special disclaimer for this project . Collaboration page for contributors . 12543 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica 1911 Table of contents This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works . Public domain Public domain false false← Alabama 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 "Alabama" Arbitration by Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe Alabama River → See also Alabama Claims on…
He was famous as a collector of traditional lore, and is very often cited in the Talmud.← Ahab 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 'Ahai Ahasuerus → See also Ahai of Shabha on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 141597 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — 'Ahai ’AḤAI, of Sabḥa, an 8th-century Talmudist of high renown. He was author of Quaestiones ( Sheiltoth ), a collection of homilies (at once learned and popular) on Jewish law and ethics. This is recorded to have been the first work written by a Jewish scholar after the completion of the Talmud.← Alphabet 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 'Al-phasi, Isaac Alphege, Saint → See also Isaac Alfasi on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 1202415 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica…
Each tana —or rabbi of the earlier period—had a spokesman, who repeated to large audiences the discourses of the tana. But the ’amora soon ceased to be a mere repeater, and developed into an original expounder of scripture and tradition.← 'Amr-ibn-el-Ass 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 'Amr-ibn-Kulthūm Amritsar → See also Amr ibn Kulthum on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 416000 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — 'Amr-ibn-Kulthūm ʽAMR IBN KULTHŪM, Arabian poet, author of one of the Moʽallaḳāt. Little or nothing is known of his life save that he was a member of the tribe of Taghlib and that he is said to have died of excessive wine-drinking. Some stories of him are told in the Book of Songs (see Abulfaraj ), vol. ix. pp. 181-185.← Amravati…
Popular questions readers ask
- How would you explain, in your own words, the fundamental conflict of international law or diplomatic principle that the "Alabama" Arbitration aimed to resolve, and why was its resolution considered crucial for averting war?
- The British government issued a proclamation of neutrality but recognized the Confederates as belligerents. How do these two positions, and the subsequent allowance of Confederate arms purchases and shipbuilding in England, expose potential inconsistencies or complexities in the concept of neutrality during wartime?
- Imagine you are a British legal official in 1862. What specific legal arguments or interpretations of international obligations would you have presented to the Commissioners of Customs to justify or compel the detention of the "Alabama," based on the evidence available at the time?
- The text highlights the "value of arbitration as a means of averting war." Given the events leading up to the "Alabama" Arbitration (e.g., the blockade-running, the construction of the ship), what could have been done differently *before* the arbitration to prevent the escalation of tensions, and what are the implications of these missed opportunities?
- The excerpt is presented under the title "A House Divided." While the main content describes the "Alabama" Arbitration, what conceptual connections or parallels, if any, can you draw between the political divisions and internal conflicts implied by "A House Divided" and the international diplomatic challenges presented by the "Alabama" incident?