Home / Authors / Ralph Barton Perry Biography

Ralph Barton Perry Biography

Philosopher

Ralph Barton Perry was an American philosopher known for his contributions to pragmatism. His works covered a range of fields including ethics, political philosophy, and religious philosophy.

Ideas Individual Enjoy Modern Exercise Capitalism Fundamentals Thesis

Book:Puritanism and Democracy

Source: Puritanism and Democracy

“Voting is the least arduous of a citizen's duties. He has the prior and harder duty of making up his mind.”

Mind Duty Citizens Harder Voting Citizenship Making Up

Book:The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

Source: The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

“As a reformer the liberal is dissatisfied with things as they are because they violate his exceptionally tender conscience.... Liberalism does not advocate change for its own sake, but for the sake of something better in the direction of what he regards as good, namely, the maximum of liberty consistent with a regard for all men and all interests -- the general happiness based on peace and justice.”

Men Doe Interest Justice Liberty Conscience Regard Sake Liberalism Consistent Maximum Something Better Peace And Justice Dissatisfied Reformers

Author:Ralph Barton Perry

“Indeed I am inclined to go so far as to say that the one cause for which one may properly make war is the cause of peace.”

May War Causes

Book:ETHICS OF WAR

Source: ETHICS OF WAR

“The English mind is intelligent rather than intellectual. The French are intellectual in the sense that the intellect is emancipated and left free to run its own course.”

Mind Running Courses Left Intellectual Intelligent Intellect

Book:The Present Conflict of Ideals: A Study of the Philosophical Background of the World War

Source: The Present Conflict of Ideals: A Study of the Philosophical Background of the World War

“This insistence on "having his say upon the universe" is the profoundest motive of William James thinking as well as of his filial gratitude.”

Thinking Wells Universe Gratitude Motive Insistence Filial

Author:Ralph Barton Perry

“If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, it is not merely because evil deeds may be performed in the name of patriotism, but because patriotic fervor can obliterate moral distinctions altogether.”

Ifs May Lasts Evil Names Moral Morality Deeds Distinction Patriotism Patriotic Refuge Scoundrels Fervor

Book:The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

Source: The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

“I prefer credulity to skepticism and cynicism for there is more promise in almost anything than in nothing at all.”

Promise Cynicism Skepticism Credulity Gullibility

Author:Ralph Barton Perry

“Ignorance deprives people of freedom because they do not know what alternatives there are. It is impossible to choose to do what one has never "heard of."”

People Knows Impossible Heard Ignorance Alternatives

Book:The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

Source: The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of Crisis

“A man can do his best only by confidently seeking (and perpetually missing) an unattainable perfection.”

Men Science Can Do Missing Perfection Seeking Accomplishment Unattainable

Book:Puritanism and Democracy

Source: Puritanism and Democracy

“Humanitarianism needs no apology, even when its objects are Russians or Communists. Unless we recover that concern and feel it toward all men without exception, including those who are on the other side in every fratricidal dispute, we shall have lost the chief redeeming force in human history.”

Men Needs Feels Humans Lost Force Chiefs Exception Apology Humanitarianism Human History Redeeming

Author:Ralph Barton Perry

“What is needed in the present plight of mankind is not more science but a change of heart that shall move mankind to devote to constructive and peaceful purposes.”

Heart Moving Science Purpose Mankind Needed Peaceful Constructive Plight Change Of Heart

Author:Ralph Barton Perry

About the Author

Born: July 3, 1876
Died: January 22, 1957
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 12

Books & Sources

The Citizen Decides: A Guide to Responsible Thinking in Time of CrisisRelated source material

Puritanism and DemocracyRelated source material

ETHICS OF WARRelated source material

The Present Conflict of Ideals: A Study of the Philosophical Background of the World WarRelated source material

Similar Authors

Thomas HuxleyBrowse related quotes
Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde DeshoulieresBrowse related quotes
Claude BernardBrowse related quotes
Francis BaconBrowse related quotes
Ayn RandBrowse related quotes
John Stuart MillBrowse related quotes
Thomas HobbesBrowse related quotes
Bertrand RussellBrowse related quotes
Edmund BurkeBrowse related quotes
James Clerk MaxwellBrowse related quotes

Ralph Barton Perry Biography

Related Quotes