---
title: 'What an American Philosophy Should Be'
type: pdf
hasMedia: true
requiresPurchase: false
authors:
- 'James McCosh'
date: 1886-01-01
collection: 'Archives'
subcollection: '19th century'
topics:
- 'Epistemology'
- 'Metaphysics'
scriptures:
- 'Proverbs 1'
- 'Romans 1'
url: https://confessional.org/archives/19th-century/mccosh-1886-what-an-american-philosophy-should-be
---

# What an American Philosophy Should Be

Argues the U.S. should develop a practical, realist philosophy: the mind directly knows matter, rejecting idealism and agnosticism, and grounding thought in observation and induction.

[Download](https://media.confessional.org/archives/mccosh-1886-what-an-american-philosophy-should-be.pdf)