George Santayana and WIlliam James's Conflicting Views on Transcendence

This book studies the philosophical work of George Santayana and the nature of his work's relationship with that of American philosopher William James. First, the book considers Santayana's unique development: his Spanish origins; the fact that he was brought to America at the age of 8, how he studied under James at Harvard, eventually becoming his colleague, and his writings, spanning over four decades after James's demise. Second, since both authors were extremely erudite and prolific writers, whose philosophical positions naturally changed over time, the book considers on what basis should one compare and contrast their views. To answer this question, the author relies on James's observation that thinkers have a „hotspot“ that serves to indicate what they most clearly care about in their writings. The book argues that James's central notion of reflex action characterizes the mind as consisting of three vital centers: Sensation, Thought, and Volition. For James, volition is the most important, and since this position, as developed throughout his writings, serves to blend elements of positivism with elements of a positivistic Existentialism. In the case of Santayana, the book argues that he emphasizes that he had a „vital philosophy“ that, because of his experiences in America, he had to gradually „disinter“ or „disentangle“ from external influences. This vital philosophy is rooted in his Spanish background, which caused him to relate much more intimately with classical literary and philosophical traditions. After examining how this idea relates both to the philosophical tradition and to Husserlian phenomenology, I conclude that Santayana's „hotspot“ might best be described as phenomenological intuitionism. These are not meant to designate the final view of either author, but to shed light on how their interactions reflect the ideas that they most cared about.