Interpreting the Universe

The philosopher John Macmurray's predominant interest lay initially in the nature of persons, since he saw this issue as presenting the main philosophical problem of the 20th century.

Later, his preoccupation with the nature of action led him to advocate a revolution in philosophical thinking comparable to that undertaken by Kant.

Macmurray argued that philosophers should learn to think from the standpoint of action, which involves participation in real life, instead of from the point of view of the pure thinking self, for whom the world is an object.

Although this line of thought was developed after the writing of "Interpreting the Universe" (first published in 1936), and did not reach full expression until Macmurray's Gifford Lectures of 1953-1954, its foundations are laid down in this book.

Consequently "Interpreting the Universe" is almost essential preliminary reading for "The Self as Agent" and "Persons in Relation".