The Dreaded Discussion: Ten Ways to Start

Abstract

In his final years henry adams attempted to answer the ontological questions that engaged his contemporaries in america and europe. Is the universe ordered or chaotic? is it spiritual or material? is there progress or decline? "mont-Saint-Michel and chartres" (1904), The "education of henry adams" (1907), And his writings collected in "the degradation of the democratic dogma" (1919) explore these questions from the perspectives of history, Personal experience, And science. Integrating all these perspectives is adams's lifelong study of philosophy, Especially german philosophy. This note traces adams's studies from 1857 to 1910 of german philosophers, His reactions to them, And their influences on his thought and works.