Abstract

This book consists of notes of lectures given by G. E. Moore at Cambridge during the three terms of 1934-35. They were compiled by the editor, Alice Ambrose, who was then Student of Newnham College, and the late Margaret Macdonald, who was then Fellow of Girton College. The lectures contain discussions of some material on which Moore published little or nothing, for example, types and tokens, propositional functions and their relation to common properties and relations, and the objects of false judgements. They also include detailed examinations of the views of a number of Moore's contemporaries, including C. D. Broad, Bertrand Russell, F. P. Ramsey, W. E. Johnson, and John Wisdom. Moreover, the lectures do a nice job of illustrating Moore's general approach to the philosophical enterprise, highlighting his emphasis upon ordinary language and revealing the high standards of clarity and precision that he demanded of himself and others. It is clear, however, that Moore is not so much concerned with formulating philosophical positions as with exploring philosophical problems. This lends a certain lack of focus to the lectures and makes them a bit confusing at times. Nevertheless, the lectures provide valuable insight into the evolution of Moore's later thought about a number of important philosophical problems.