Vaihinger's Philosophy of the As If is a book written by G. R. S. Mead that explores the philosophical ideas of Hans Vaihinger, a German philosopher who developed the concept of ""as if"" thinking. According to Vaihinger, humans often use fictional concepts and assumptions to make sense of the world and navigate through life. He believed that these fictions, or ""as if"" assumptions, are necessary for human thought and action, even if they are not objectively true.Mead's book explores Vaihinger's ideas in depth, examining the implications of ""as if"" thinking for various areas of philosophy, including epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics. Mead also discusses the criticisms that have been leveled against Vaihinger's philosophy, and offers his own reflections on the value and limitations of ""as if"" thinking.Overall, Vaihinger's Philosophy of the As If is a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of a key concept in modern philosophy. It will be of interest to anyone interested in the nature of human thought and the role of fiction in our understanding of the world.THIS 34 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Quests Old and New, by G. R. S. Mead. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0922802793.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.