A Pluralistic Universe · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in A Pluralistic Universe by William James.
Gustav Theodor Fechner
major
Also known as Fechner, poor Fechner, a Fechner
German philosopher and psychologist whose panpsychist views are central to the book's pluralistic argument.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
major
Also known as Hegel
German idealist philosopher whose monistic method is critiqued throughout the lectures.
Henri Bergson
major
Also known as Professor Bergson, Professor Henri Bergson, Bergson, M. Bergson
French philosopher whose critique of intellectualism supports James's pluralistic empiricism.
F. H. Bradley
supporting
Also known as Mr. Bradley, Bradley, VI Mr. Bradley
British idealist philosopher whose views are frequently discussed and opposed.
Immanuel Kant
supporting
Also known as Kant, Immanuel Kant
German philosopher whose transcendental idealism is a key reference point for the lectures.
Josiah Royce
supporting
Also known as Royce, Professor Royce, continuity Royce, Lotze and Royce
American idealist philosopher and colleague of James, often critiqued for monism.
Hermann Lotze
minor
Also known as Lotze, Lotze and Royce
German philosopher whose work on pluralism and continuity is discussed.
T. H. Green
minor
Also known as T. H. Green, Green
British idealist philosopher whose monistic views are referenced.
David Hume
minor
Also known as David Hume, David Eitchie—to, David, Hume
Scottish empiricist philosopher whose ideas on experience are invoked.
John McTaggart
minor
Also known as Mr. McTaggart
British idealist philosopher whose arguments on time and reality are cited.
G. F. Stout
minor
Also known as Stout, Professor Stout
British psychologist and philosopher whose views on consciousness are discussed.
Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison
minor
Also known as Andrew Seth Pringle - Pattison
Scottish philosopher whose criticisms of idealism are referenced.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
minor
Also known as Leibnitz
German philosopher whose monadology is discussed in relation to pluralism.
Harold Joachim
minor
Also known as Mr. Joachim, Joachim
British idealist philosopher whose views on truth are critiqued.
Charles Sanders Peirce
minor
Also known as Charles, Mr. Charles S. Peirce, Mr. Peirce, Peirce
American philosopher and logician, founder of pragmatism, cited by James.
Zeno of Elea
minor
Also known as Zeno
Ancient Greek philosopher known for paradoxes about motion and plurality.
Achilles
minor
Also known as Achilles
Mythological Greek hero used in Zeno's paradox of the tortoise.
John Stuart Mill
minor
Also known as Mill, John Mill, John
British empiricist philosopher whose logic and metaphysics are referenced.
Friedrich Paulsen
minor
Also known as Professor Paulsen, Paulsen
German philosopher and educator, cited in discussions of Fechner.
James Ward
minor
Also known as Mr. Ward, Ward
British psychologist and philosopher, referenced in pluralistic contexts.
John Grote
minor
Also known as The late Professor John Grote of Cambridge, John
British philosopher whose ideas on experience are mentioned.
Socrates
minor
Also known as Socrates
Ancient Greek philosopher, used as an example in philosophical discussion.
Edward Caird
minor
Also known as Cairds
Scottish idealist philosopher, referenced alongside his brother John Caird.
Baruch Spinoza
minor
Also known as Spinoza
Dutch rationalist philosopher whose monism is discussed.
A. E. Taylor
minor
Also known as Mr. Taylor, Taylor, Professor Taylor, Professor A. E. Taylor
British philosopher whose views on time and reality are critiqued.
Charles Renouvier
minor
Also known as Renouvier
French philosopher known for his neo-criticism and pluralism.
Samuel Bailey
minor
Also known as Samuel Bailey
British philosopher and economist, cited in a specific argument.
Richard Burdon Haldane
minor
Also known as Haldane, Mr. Haldane
British philosopher and statesman, referenced in idealist debates.
Aristotle
minor
Also known as Aristotle
Ancient Greek philosopher, foundational figure in Western thought.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
minor
Also known as Emerson
American transcendentalist philosopher, quoted by James.
Henry Jones
minor
Also known as Professor Henry Jones, Henry
Scottish philosopher, cited in discussions of idealism.
Martin Luther
minor
Also known as Luther
German theologian, used as an example of religious experience.
Plato
minor
Also known as Plato
Ancient Greek philosopher, foundational figure in idealist tradition.
John Locke
minor
Also known as poor old Locke, Locke
British empiricist philosopher, criticized for his view of substance.
William Wallace
minor
Also known as W. Wallace, Wallace
British philosopher and translator of Hegel, referenced.
