Character of the Age for Logic

Character of the Age for Logic

The work critiques the current state of logic and reasoning in society, contrasting it with earlier periods, particularly during the time of Charles I and Cromwell. It observes that while past political writings often had flawed premises, their conclusions were logically sound. In contrast, contemporary writings frequently start with valid premises but lead to erroneous conclusions. The author commends the University of Oxford for maintaining the study of logic, asserting that geometry cannot replace it. The text reflects on the philosophical contributions of Socrates, noting that Xenophon captures the essence of Socrates more authentically than Plato, despite Plato's works being more philosophically rich. The author discusses the portrayal of religion in Greek tragedy, highlighting the varying depictions of divinity by Æschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, with Euripides taking a more modern, critical stance. The work also touches on the representation of power and wealth in literature, using Kotzebue's depiction of Pacific island kings as analogous to Homeric heroes. The author expresses skepticism about certain poetic expressions attributed to Homer, suggesting they may be more aligned with later poets. The text further explores the nature of great writers, asserting that they often produce their best work when calm and detached from political fervor, with Burke being an exception when passionately engaged with significant events like the French Revolution. The author reflects on the nature of perception and the human experience, using metaphors to illustrate how appearances can be deceiving. The commentary concludes with observations on human behavior, particularly regarding suspicion and dishonesty, drawing parallels between plagiarists and pickpockets.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1835 · Genre: Philosophy, Literary Criticism, Political Commentary · 690 words

First lines

This is not a logical age. A friend lately gave me some political pamphlets of the times of Charles I. and the Cromwellate. In them the premisses are frequently wrong, but the deductions are almost always legitimate; whereas, in the writings of the present day, the premisses are commonly sound, but the conclusions false. I think a great deal of commendation is due to the University of Oxford for preserving the study of logic in the schools. It is a great mistake to suppose geometry any substitute for it.

What this Textopian page supports

Character of the Age for Logic is listed on Textopian as an essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1835 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Good citation fit

Discussion starters

Similar titles

Genres

Tags

logic · philosophy · Samuel Taylor Coleridge · political pamphlets · Charles I · Cromwell · premises · conclusions · University of Oxford · geometry · Socrates · Xenophon

More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge