ABSTRACT
The existence of two types has also been discovered in modern pragmatic philosophy, particularly in the philosophy of William James. James makes “rationalism” synonymous with “intellectualism,” and “empiricism” with “sensationalism.” Sensationalism connotes extreme empiricism. It postulates sense-experience as the sole and exclusive source of knowledge. The sensationalistic attitude is wholly oriented by objects of sense. Instead of reverence for “eternal” ideas, the empiricist has an almost religious belief in facts. It makes no difference, psychologically, whether a man is oriented by the idea of God or by the idea of matter, or whether facts are exalted into the determinants of his attitude. The conflict between the two “truths” requires a pragmatic attitude if any sort of justice is to be done to the other standpoint. Pragmatism can be no more than a transitional attitude preparing the way for the creative act by removing prejudices. James and Bergson are signposts along road which German philosophy—not of the academic sort—has already trodden.
