Of the Interdependence of the Principles of Knowledge: An Investigation of the Problems of Elementary Epistemology, in Two Chapters, with an Introduction on the Principal Ideas and Problems in which the Discussion takes its Rise

This document is Josiah Royce's 1878 doctoral dissertation, Of the Interdependence of the Principles of Knowledge, completed at Johns Hopkins University. Royce, one of the first recipients of a Ph.D. in philosophy in the United States, presents a rigorous examination of epistemology, focusing on the interrelation of fundamental principles that underpin human knowledge. The dissertation explores key philosophical themes, including the nature of certainty, error, and truth, as well as the role of logical reasoning in establishing valid knowledge claims. Royce critically engages with the works of Descartes, Spinoza, Kant, Leibniz, and other major philosophers, constructing an argument for an epistemological framework rooted in Idealism. The transcription preserves the structure and stylistic elements of the original handwritten manuscript, offering valuable insights into Royce's early philosophical development and the intellectual currents of 19th-century American philosophy.