About the Book That the need of an Introduction to Philosophy was felt in the past is shown by the record of systematic lectures and the existence of books upon the subject. There is, however, at the present time a curious dearth of books, whether elementary outlines or advanced treatises, to be used as supplementary to oral teaching. Thus we have nothing that can compare for practical value with the Einleitung in die Philosophie, by Johann Georg Walch, 1727, which treated in three books of philosophy and philosophical knowledge in general, of the special philosophical disciplines, and of the philosophical mysteries, and gave its readers much historical information and numerous literary references. This work presents a comprehensive and detailed picture not only of the condition of philosophical thought at a particular time, but also of the history of philosophy at large.
Preface This book has been written to supply a need which my experience as a teacher had brought home to me. At the same time, it is meant as a modest contribution to the philosophical work of the present day. On the one hand, I have striven to produce an elementary but complete guide to philosophy, past and present; and have thus been lel to include in the work facts and arguments which lave hitherto been confined to encyclopedias of philosophy. On the other, I have attempted, whether by way of criticism or by the adoption of a positive attitude to philosophical aims and problems, to further, or at least to stimulate, scientific work in the philosophical field. The reader will find, I hope, that the divergent schools of philosophic thought and the achievements of individual philosophers, ancient and modern, are treated with uniform interest and impartiality, and that the estimate of their value is based upon good reasons.
Introduction 1. The Purpose of an Introduction to Philosophy. 1. THAT the need of an Introduction to Philosophy was felt in the past is shown by the record of systematic lectures and the existence of books upon the subject. That the same need is felt to-day is proved by the advertisement of introductory lecture courses in philosophy at most universities. There is, however, at the present time a curious dearth of books, whether elementary outlines or advanced treatises, to be used as supplementary to oral teaching. Thus we have nothing that can compare for practical value with the Einleitung in die Philosophie, by Johann Georg Walch, 1727, which treated in three books of philosophy and philosophical knowledge in general, of the special philosophical disciplines, and of the philosophical mysteries, and gave its readers much historical information and numerous literary references. This work presents a comprehensive and detailed picture not only of the condition of philosophical thought at a particular time, but also (in spite of certain peculiar and erroneous historical statements) of the history of philosophy at large. 2. But not every Introduction to Philosophy has been written from this standpoint. We find that the problèm, nominally tho same but variously conceived, has been approached by two essentially different paths.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
