Essays in Critical Realism: A Co-Operative Study of the Problem of Knowledge (Classic Reprint)

How we know the world: a clear, careful look at memory, perception, and the givenness of knowledge

This edition examines how memory and sense-perception relate to the objects we experience. It argues that what is given in our minds is not the object itself, but a universal essence that helps us rest on reality. The discussion contrasts different theories of knowledge, clarifying how true knowledge depends on the relationship between what is given and what the object truly is.

In plain terms, the author shows why blaming data as mere representations can mislead us, and how a disciplined view of givenness avoids these traps. The text traces how judgments gain truth through an ongoing process of interpretation, while keeping sight of the persistent facts that anchor our understanding.

• Distinguish between the datum we sense and the objects those senses describe
• Learn why “given” data must be understood as universal essences, not separate existences
• Explore how memory, perception, and reasoning work together to form knowledge
• See how epistemological monism differs from dualistic interpretations and why it matters

Ideal for readers of philosophy of knowledge, epistemology, and critical realism who want a clear map of how we come to know the world without oversimplifying what is given to us.

George Santayana (1863--1952) was a philosopher, poet, critic, and novelist. He is the author of "The Last Puritan" (MIT Press) and many other works.