Abstract

Royce’s intellectual growth was ever changing, ever constant. In his first book he treats of a subject on which his thoughts were largely engaged at the time of his death. But how differently the subject was conceived!I myself have spent my life in revising my opinions.The American philosopher Josiah Royce is often caricatured as advocating a “block universe”—a dyed-in-the-wool idealist viewing the self as a function of the Absolute. The classic expression is the famous photograph of Royce sitting with William James on a stonewall at James’ summer home in Chocorua. As the photograph is taken, James shakes his finger at Royce in a friendly but determined manner saying, “Damn the Absolute!” James chaffed at any...