Smart, John Jameison Carswell - Philosophy and Scientific Realism

This book is meant as an essay in synthetic philosophy, as the adumbration of a coherent and scientifically plausible world view. A good many philosophers would nowadays question the legitimacy of such an endeavour. It will therefore be as well if I say a few words about the nature of philosophy as I conceive it. No one answer can be given to the question 'What is philosophy?' since the words 'philosophy' and 'philosopher' have been used in many ways. Some people, for example, think of philosophy as offering the consolations of a religion, and of the philosopher as a man who receives with equanimity the buffetings of life. This has very little to do with the way in which academic people, including myself, use the word 'philosophy'. I do not feel particularly unqualified to be an academic philosopher because I am not 'philosophical' when I am bowled out first ball at cricket. As I propose to use the word 'philosophy' it will stand primarily for an attempt to think clearly and comprehensively about: (a) the nature of the universe, and (b) the principles of conduct.