Know the Truth: A Critique on the Hamiltonian Theory of Limitation

Jones, Jesse Henry, 1836-1904Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.0

Word count: 471K words
Chapters: 48

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Know the Truth: A Critique on the Hamiltonian Theory of Limitation by JonesAuthor: Jones, Jesse Henry, 1836-1904,Language: English, Class: BD: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Speculative Philosophy, General Philosophical works, Release Date: Oct 27, 2011

Editor's review

This book is a systematic critique by the nineteenth-century American thinker Jesse Henry Jones of Hamilton's theory of limitation. Hamilton's theory of limitation attempts to draw boundaries around human knowledge; Jones, starting from the possibility of knowing truth, examines layer by layer the presuppositions and inferences of this limiting framework, asking whether man can truly be confined within the finite by an impassable boundary. The argument is dense and the terminology thick—typical of nineteenth-century speculative philosophy—so the book poses a considerable barrier to today's readers, yet for that very reason it preserves the raw texture of philosophical debate in that era. Its value lies not in offering ready-made conclusions but in demonstrating a way of thinking that takes the limits of knowledge seriously: first clarify the other side's concepts, then point out their internal difficulties. It is suitable as supplementary material for studying Hamilton's philosophy, nineteenth-century Anglo-American philosophical disputes, or the history of epistemology, and for philosophical readers willing to read slowly and dwell on the details of argument. It is best treated as an intellectual document rather than an introductory work.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and students studying Hamilton's philosophy or nineteenth-century epistemological debates
Readers interested in primary texts of philosophical history who are willing to read arguments slowly
Researchers in need of nineteenth-century English philosophical debate corpora

Not a good fit for

General readers without philosophical background, for whom the terminology and density of argument may prove frustrating
Those seeking concise introductory guides or modern popular interpretations
Readers expecting a literary or narrative reading experience

Reading tips

Read the introduction or opening pages first to grasp the core claims of the “theory of limitation” that Jones critiques before entering the main text.
Keep pen and paper at hand; map the argument's structure as you read and mark definitions of key concepts and points of transition.
Record unfamiliar terms first and revisit them after finishing a chapter, rather than pausing repeatedly over a single sentence.
Read alongside Hamilton's original works or relevant chapters of philosophical history to understand the context of the debate.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for philosophy beginners?

Not really. This is a nineteenth-century speculative philosophical debate, dense in terminology and built up layer by layer, and readers lacking background knowledge can easily get lost. If you know nothing of Hamilton's theory of limitation, it is advisable to read the relevant chapters of a history of philosophy first, then return to this book.

What does “Hamilton's theory of limitation” roughly refer to?

It refers to the Scottish philosopher William Hamilton's claim that human knowledge is conditioned and limited—that we can know only objects as limited and conditioned, and cannot grasp the unconditioned. Jones's book critiques precisely this framework, asking whether its conceptual presuppositions and inferences hold.

What prior knowledge is needed to read this book?

A basic grasp of epistemological concepts is helpful, along with some background in nineteenth-century Scottish philosophy and Hamilton's thought. If you have read discussions of the theory of limitation and the unconditioned in a history of philosophy, the reading will go much more smoothly; otherwise, begin with relevant introductory chapters.

Is this a public-domain e-book, and what reading format is recommended?

This book comes from Project Gutenberg and is a public-domain electronic text in English. A reading application that supports annotation and search is recommended, so you can look back on terms and argumentative threads at any time; for long reading sessions, proceed in stages rather than forcing your way through in one sitting.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Jones, Jesse Henry, 1836-1904 Author · 1836–1904

Jesse Henry Jones (1836–1904); the Chinese rendering of the surname "Jones" is phonetic, and reliable public information on the Chinese form of his given name is limited. Only one work by him is held in the collection: Know the Truth: A Critique on the Hamiltonian Theory of Limitation. As the title indicates, the book belongs to philosophical criticism, examining the concept of "limitation" and offering a critical discussion of the philosophical theory associated with Hamilton. Jones's writing is argumentative and analytical, focused on clarifying concepts and advancing arguments rather than on popular exposition. Because public information is limited, no reliable details about his life, nationality, or education can be supplied. Within the collection, Jones is known chiefly for this critical work, whose value lies in providing a nineteenth-century critical text for the study of the relevant philosophical questions.