The Character of Philosophy in Canada

THE CHARACTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN CANADA CHARLES w. HENDEL I SHALL offer for consideration an opinion concerning the character of philosophy in Canada.~ The expression "philosophy in Canada,'' is chosen deliberately instead of "Canadian philosophy.'' For to talk of a Canadian philosophy may, in the present temper of the world, be misleading because one might suppose that there is a national philosophy of Canada, that is, a philosophy which is consciously national in character, and this would be contrary to fact. Indeed the very immunity of Canadian scholars and philosophers to any such national self-consciousness seems to me their first remarkable characteristic. They appear quite oblivious of any national brand of philosophy which it is incumbent on them to defend or propagate. No Canadian Congresses have been solemnly convened to discuss the questions whether there is a Canadian philosophy, what it is, and what can be done to create more of it. Whenever members from Canada attend the Inter-American Congresses of Philosophy, where such questions a.re discussed about an all-American philosophy, they have not betrayed any national sensitiveness and they have never felt any urgency to assert themselves and demand recognition for some unique Canadian contribution to the pool of thought out of which a common American wisdom would some day, perhaps, be excogitated. They are not concernt:d with nationalism but keep themselves whole and sound for philosophy. Th.is obliviousness to nationalist ambition is due to their maturity and not to innocence of the world. There have been some troubling times in the development of this Canadian community. Indeed, the term "cammunity" is almost too perfect a term to use in this connection . Professor Irving is treading very delicately, when he says that "the e:.arlit:r French-speaking population has never been assimilated racially, linguistically, or culturally by the numerically superior English." He adds the regretful comment that there is a "basic cultural disunity" in Canada. Will not that "basic disunity" affect the spirit of the philosophy? We cannot help asking this question and wanting to know more about the whole matter. Let us be more explicit about the relationships of the English and the French; for unless we are we might tThis is the second of two papers, printed in this Issue, which were pre~~eoted at the forty-seventh annual meeting of the American Philosophical Auociat:ion (Eastern Divi&ion), held at the University of Torooto. They were given at 2 1ymposiuro on Canadian philosophy, Decc.m~r 29, l~SO. 124 UNfVERsn:v OF ToRONTO QuAA.TERLY, vol. XX, oo. 2, Jan., 1951 THE CHARACTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN CANADA 125 suppose erroneously that it has been the settled purpose of the "numerically superior English" to effect unity through a cultural assimilation. Precisely this is what they have not attempted to do. Instead, they have accepted the historical diversity of culture in Canada. They have consented to it in the.ir constitution. The French Canadians, settled for over three centuries in Quebec, have enjoyed the right to their own language everywhere, and especially in the schools, so that all their education, civil and religious, is given in their native tongue. English is a second language, required in school, and it is, of course, really necessary in the business of life. The Catholic-administered schools are tax-supported, from the portion of the taxes derived from the Catholic population of the province. The Church thus detennines the culture of the people, as far as the culture can be determined through education and religion, for one realizes that the general practices of secular life in the modern world are also, in their way, educative. There is, then, a distinct French-Canadian culture which has been intentionally preserved and fostered. Here we see the modus vivendi of the English and the French, established as a matter of fundamental policy for the Dominion, which is truly a remarkable example of "live and let 1ive," and an impressive demonstration of the attempt to apply the principle of tolerance. Yet in practice there are very great complications which we could hardly grasp without experience of life here, and much long, careful, objective study. Perhaps mention of only one political...