Why The Eternal Value Possible

According to different research methods, Western axiology study can be conclued into four types,the experiential,the transcendental,the language analytic and the mentalism. This paper deals with two of them, one is experiential, and the other is transcendental. The representative of the former are Dewey, Perry,Urban,Lewis, and the reprsentative of the latter are Lotze, Windelband, Sheller and Muensterberg. Munsterberg's theory of value expresses the thoughts about values at the initial stage of axiology study---Neo-Kantism, which reflects the characteristic of this group. The study helps us understand the similar problems we face nowadays. So it has both theoretical and realistic meaning."In practical life, everywhere an uncanny feeling prevails that our hasty, busy life has lost its aim, that our efficiency has grown, but that the meaning of our life is in danger, that everything is scattered, and that we need a unity. Clearer and clearer shine the values through the world of facts."4This is the description of his era; do we have the same feeling of our times? In fact, we now face the similar but even severe problems. So to understand Munsterberg's way of solving problems is a good reference for us.His way is to construct a world of values to conquer nihilism and relativism, resolve the conflicts of different values, replace the flashing and meaningless moments with meaningful life. As far as Munsterberg concerned, the eternal values are pure and absolute, which are also independent of time, space, individual pleasure or displeasure. The meaning of our life roots in the following belief, there is a world with eternal values. The absolute value is not given; our task is not to find, but to construct. It is not the castle in the air. The world of values has the reality as its foundation; it is based on the reality and transcends it. In a word, the world-totality is valuable; truth, beauty and morality will not contradict with each other, but will be in a unity. The unity is attained by the identity of the will, which is over-personal and pure. "To understand the absolute values means to understand how our will can become an over-personal demand which without reference to any one's personal pleasure or displeasure, finds its satisfaction in truth and beauty and morality and religion."5The dissertation can be divided into four parts:the first part focuses on Muessterberg's ideological backgroud and sources.The second part mainly talks about how he argue against relativism,naturalism and skepticism.The third part discusses his definition of value, his theory's psychological foundation----how the will can be indepent of individual pleasure and displeasure; the elaboration of his eternal world of values.The fourth part comments his viewpoint from his contempories just as Morre,Urban,Talor,and makes comparison between his theory and Sheler,N.Hartman, Nietzsche,Dewey and Max.The final part will account the inspiration of Muessterberg's theory.