Outline of Philosophy in two parts by Charles Gray Shaw.

Outline of Philosophy

Charles Gray Shaw (1870-1949) was Professor of Philosophy at the University of New York from 1899-1941. Though a very strong modernist thinker, he still smiled on Plato. His discussion of the mysticism of Henri Bergson cannot be labeled as friendly, however. At the end of the day, this little overview of philosophy was very helpful to me. If I had to pidgeon hole Shaw, I might think he is inclined toward Thomism.

One quote of particular interest is this: "Both action and perception call upon the mind to recognize something which is neither subjective nor objective, but real" (Vol. 2, 165-66). Shaw believes in the necessity of the Absolute Being, God. Yet, he makes a fine distinction between God and order. Some argue that because there is order experienced in the world, there must be a God to order it. Shaw entertains the idea that because there is a God, there is order in the world. This "order" he calls "reality". He concludes with this statement, "But, even when we cannot indicate the special manner in which the Absolute lays hold of reality, whether as a picture or a mathematical proposition or a philosophical system, we can still maintain the notion that in and behind the cosmic system is that Absolute Mind without which it could not exist, still less be known" (Vol. 2, 177).

Links for Shaw:

Dostoievsky's Mystical Terror

Bibliography of Shaw's Writings: