Statement and Interference

By John Cook Wilson

"Statement and Inference" represents a foundational collection of the philosophical lectures and writings of John Cook Wilson, a pivotal figure in the development of the Oxford realist tradition. This first volume offers a rigorous exploration into the nature of knowledge, judgment, and the logical structures that underpin human thought. By challenging the idealistic trends of his era, Wilson advocates for a philosophy grounded in the reality of the known object and the clarity of mental acts.

The work examines the relationship between linguistic expression and logical reality, focusing on the "statement" as the primary vehicle of judgment and the mechanics of "inference" as a process of discovery and verification. Wilson provides a detailed critique of formal logic and symbolic methods, instead emphasizing a nuanced analysis of how we perceive and communicate truth. His distinction between knowing and mere thinking serves as a cornerstone for his epistemological investigations.

Valuable for its historical and philosophical depth, "Statement and Inference" provides an essential look at the early twentieth-century British realism that helped shape modern analytical philosophy. It remains a significant text for scholars and students interested in the history of logic, the philosophy of language, and the fundamental problems of epistemology.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025499654
• ISBN13: 9781025499659
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 590 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"