A History of Modern Philosophy: (From the Renaissance to the Present)

Front matter

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Preface

Undertaking only to a limited extent the higher logicogenetic development and the complete and final valuation of ideas and systems of thought, the present work aims primarily merely to present with considerable fulness, and as simply and clearly as may be consistent with scientific accuracy, the principal content of the leading systems (and partial systems) of philosophy in modern times, together with a reasonable amount of information regarding philosophical authors and works. It aims to be something more than a mere "chronological" account of systems, authors, and works ; to show, in a general way, at least, the actual historical connections of systems, — /".<?., to exhibit the historical continuity of modern philosophical thought, and, further, to furnish materials and stimulus to the student for the study of the higher genesis and final values of ideas and systems. The paragraphs of characterization (marked Result) are of course intended rather as helpful suggestions than as complete, absolute statements of final truth. It seems not out of place to remind the reader that where, as almost necessarily in a case like the present, a work contains numerous quotations, direct and indirect, and adaptations from a great variety of authors, a certain heterogeneity and lack of smoothness in style is inevitable. The apparently disproportionate length at which certain recent systems are treated will find sufficient excuse, it is assumed, in the fact that they have not as yet become commonly known through other histori.es of philosophy. For the benefit of vi PREFACE,

readers unfamiliar with German and Italian, the titles of the principal philosophical works in these languages have been translated.

In the preparation of the present work the following-named authorities have been chiefly depended upon : —

WORKS OF THE PHILOSOPHERS (Originals and Translations).

Geschichte der Philosophie" (1879).

Zeller's '^ Geschichte der neuern Philosophie seit Leibniz"

(1873).

Erdmann's "Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie."

(Also the translation of the same, made in part by

the present writer.)

" Dictionnaire des Sciences Philosophiques," etc., edited by M. Adam Franck (1875).

Volumes in *' Blackwood's Philosophical Classics,** edited by Professor Knight.

Volumes in Griggs's "Philosophical Classics," edited by Professor Morris.

Volumes in "English Philosophers," edited by Professor Monck.

Articles in the " Encyclopaedia Britannica."

Ueberweg's "History of Philosophy" (Morris's translation, vol. ii., containing also histories of English and of American Philosophy, by Ex-President Porter, and a " History of Italian Philosophy," by Professor Botta).

Fischer's " Geschichte der neuern Philosophie " (also translation of vol. i. of the same by J. P. Gordy).

StockPs " Lehrbuch der Geschichte der Philosophie" (1870).

Schwegler's "Handbook of the History of Philosophy" (Stirling's translation).

Morris's " British Thought and Thinkers."

McCosh's " Scottish Philosophy."

Articles in "Journal of Speculative Philosophy."

To some extent, also, the Histories of Hegel, Michelet, Lewes, Morell, Fortlage, Windelband, and Willm and Erdmann's larger work, have been used.

Table Of Contents

FIRST PERIOD OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY.

Pagb § I. The General Characfer and the Main Divisions

OF Modern Philosophy 15