Philosophy in the second half of the 19th century was based more on biology and history than on mathematics and physics. Revolutionary thought drifted away from metaphysics and epistemology and shifted more towards ideologies in science, politics, and sociology. Pragmatism became the most vigorous school of thought in American philosophy during this time, and it continued the empiricist tradition of grounding knowledge on experience and stressing the inductive procedures of experimental science. The three most important pragmatists of this period were the American philosophers Charles Peirce (1839-1914), considered to be the first of the American pragmatists, William James (1842-1910), the first great American psychologist, and John Dewey (1859 ~ 1952), who further developed the pragmatic principles of Peirce and James into a comprehensive system of thought that he called '"experimental naturalism", or "instrumentalism".
Pragmatism was generally critical of traditional western philosophy, especially the notion that there are absolute truths and absolute values. In contrast, Josiah Royce (1855 - 1916), was a leading American exponent of idealism at this time, who believed in an absolute truth and held that human thought, and the external world were unifieD.Pragmatism called for ideas and theories to be tested in practice, assessing whether they produced desirable or undesirable results. Although pragmatism was popular for a time in Europe, most agree that it epitomized the American faith in know-how and practicality, and the equally American distrust of abstract theories and ideologies. Pragmatism is best understood in its historical and cultural context. It arose during a period of rapid scientific advancement, industrialization, and material progress; a time when the theory of evolution suggested to many thinkers that humanity and society are in a perpetual state of progress. This period also saw a decline in traditional religious beliefs and values. As a result, it became necessary to rethink fundamental ideas about values, religion, science, community, and individuality. Pragmatists regarded all theories and institutions as tentative hypotheses and solutions. According to their critics, the pragmatist's refusal to affirm any absolutes carried negative implications for society, challenging the foundations of society's institutions.
1.What is this passage primarily about?
2.Which of the following is true?
3.According to the passage, pragmatism was more popular in America than Europe, because（ ）.
4.All of the following are true EXCEPT（ ）.
5.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
问题1选项
A.The evolution of philosophy in the second half of the 19th century.
B.The three most important American pragmatists of the late 19th century.
C.The differences between pragmatism and traditional western philosophy.
D.American pragmatism.
问题2选项
A.Idealism was an important part of the pragmatic approach.
B."Pragmatism" was also known as "traditional western philosophy".
C.Pragmatism continued the empiricist tradition.
D.Pragmatism is best understood independently of its historical and cultural context.
问题3选项
A.Americans had greater acceptance of the theory of evolution
B.it epitomized the American faith in know-how and practicality
C.Europe had a more traditional society based on a much longer history
D.industrialization and material progress was occurring at a faster pace in America at that time
问题4选项
A.revolutionary thought shifted more towards ideologies in science, politics and sociology
B.pragmatists regarded all theories and institutions as tentative hypotheses and solutions
C.Josiah Royce was not a pragmatist
D.pragmatism was based on the theory of evolution
问题5选项
A.Josiah Royce considered Charles Peirce to be challenging the foundations of society's institutions.
B.Charles Peirce considered Josiah Royce to be too influenced by the theory of evolution.
C.John Dewey would not have developed his system of thought called "experimental naturalism" or " instrumentalism" without the pioneering work of Charles Peirce and William James.
D.Josiah Royce was a revolutionary thinker.
第1题:D
第2题:C
第3题:B
第4题:D
第5题:C
1.主旨大意题。阅读全文可知，文章第一段介绍了实用主义的代表人物和思想，第二段介绍了实用主义的思想理念和侧重点。综合可知，D选项符合题意。
2.细节事实题。由题干可以定位到文章第一段中“Pragmatism became the most vigorous school of thought in American philosophy during this time, and it continued the empiricist tradition of grounding knowledge on experience and stressing the inductive procedures of experimental science.”， 中文翻译为：在这一时期，实用主义成为美国哲学中最具活力的学派，它延续了以经验为基础、强调实验科学的归纳过程的经验主义传统。因此，C项正确，译为“实用主义延续了经验主义传统”。
3.细节事实题。由题干可以定位到文章第二段中“Although pragmatism was popular for a time in Europe, most agree that it epitomized the American faith in know-how and practicality, and the equally American distrust of abstract theories and ideologies.” 中文翻译为：虽然实用主义在欧洲曾一度流行，但大多数人都认为它是美国人对诀窍和实用性的信仰的概括，也是美国人对抽象理论和意识形态不信任的概括。可以推测出B选项“它体现了美国对诀窍和实用性的信仰”正确。
4.细节事实题。由选项D可以定位到文章第一段中“it continued the empiricist tradition of grounding knowledge on experience and stressing the inductive procedures of experimental science.” 中文翻译为：它延续了以经验为基础、强调实验科学 的归纳过程的经验主义传统。可以得知D选项“实用主义是以进化论为基础的”表述错误。
5.推理判断题。根据选项C可以定位到原文第一段中 “John Dewey (1859—1952), who further developed the pragmatic principles of Peirce and James into a comprehensive system of thought that he called '"experimental naturalism", or ”instrumentalism.”，中文翻译为 ：约翰•杜烕（1859 年—1952 年），他把皮尔斯和詹姆斯的实用主义原则进一步发展成一个他称之为“实验自然主义”或“工具主义”的综合思想体系。可以推测出C选项“没有查尔斯•皮尔策和烕廉•詹姆斯的开创性著作的情况下，约翰•杜威不可能形成他所谓的“实验性自然主义”或“工具主义”的系统。”正确。
