The Life Of The Animal And Spiritual - Santayana Concept Of "essence" Of The Inspection

Abstract:As a famous philosopher,critic and poet,George Santayana has been underrated for a long time.By re-examining his theory of essence, this article is aiming at a threefold effect:(A)try to argue that the theory of essence plays an initial part in Santayana's philosophic inquiry;(B)try to unveil Santayana's heritage on American realism and naturalism and(C)based on(A) and(B),undertake to attain some insights about life in fundamental bearings.The article will be oriented by following theme that being discussed through over the history of philosophy:the animality and spirituality of life.To achieve the intended aim,I will begin by discussing the two ways of finding the essence;then I will probe into the attitude we hold towards the essence and the way approaching it;further on,I will advance the my discussion to the philosophical position Santayana persists,his naturalism;and finally as a sum up,I will return to the theme and put my inquiry into the context of the history of philosophy.By distinguishing the existence and the essence,Santayana is able to help us to perceive the meaning of life more clearly.Our concepts of the things exist and the existence itself are no more than animal faith;and a sincere philosophy accepts this fact as the fundamental state of life. However,by the use of ultimate scepticism we could finally get rid of these animal faith and find a realm of essence which is infinite and includes all possibilities.Santayana argues that the realm of essence is highly relevant to the spirituality of life,because essence,as the last residuum of scepticism,will display itself as the cool joy of contact with the eternal.Throughout his struggling life,Santayana is undertaking to deliver that spirituality is neither an escape nor a liberation from animality,yet it is the very action of the animal life in this miry world.Afire,if could be called sincere,must always raise its head from animal faith and open its eyes to essence.This is the dry wit of Santayana.