History of Modern Philosophy

History of Modern Philosophy

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Title: History Of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the
Present Time
Author: Richard Falckenberg
Release Date: February 15, 2004 [EBook #11100]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY ***

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HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY
From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time

by
RICHARD FALCKENBERG
Professor of Philosophy in the University of Erlangen

THIRD AMERICAN FROM THE SECOND GERMAN EDITION
TRANSLATED WITH THE AUTHOR'S SANCTION BY A.C.
ARMSTRONG, JR. Professor of Philosophy in Wesleyan University
1893

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
The aim of this translation is the same as that of the original work.
Each is the outcome of experience in university instruction in
philosophy, and is intended to furnish a manual which shall be at once
scientific and popular, one to stand midway between the exhaustive
expositions of the larger histories and the meager sketches of the
compendiums. A pupil of Kuno Fischer, Fortlage, J.E. Erdmann, Lotze,
and Eucken among others, Professor Falckenberg began his career as
Docent in the university of Jena. In the year following the first edition
of this work he became Extraordinarius in the same university, and in
1888 Ordinarius at Erlangen, choosing the latter call in preference to
an invitation to Dorpat as successor to Teichmüller. The chair at
Erlangen he still holds. His work as teacher and author has been chiefly
in the history of modern philosophy. Besides the present work and
numerous minor articles, he has published the following: _Ueber den
intelligiblen Charakter, zur Kritik der Kantischen Freiheitslehre_ 1879;
_Grundzüge der Philosophie des Nicolaus Cusanus_, 1880-81; and
_Ueber die gegenwärtige Lage der deutschen Philosophie_, 1890
(inaugural address at Erlangen). Since 1884-5 Professor Falckenberg
has also been an editor of the _Zeitschrift für Philosophie und
philosophische Kritik_, until 1888 in association with Krohn, and after
the latter's death, alone. At present he has in hand a treatise on Lotze
for a German series analogous to Blackwood's Philosophical Classics,
which is to be issued under his direction. Professor Falckenberg's
general philosophical position may be described as that of moderate
idealism. His historical method is strictly objective, the aim being a
free reproduction of the systems discussed, as far as possible in their
original terminology and historical connection, and without the
intrusion of personal criticism.
The translation has been made from the second German edition (1892),

with still later additions and corrections communicated by the author in
manuscript. The translator has followed the original faithfully but not
slavishly. He has not felt free to modify Professor Falckenberg's
expositions, even in the rare cases where his own opinions would have
led him to dissent, but minor changes have been made wherever needed
to fit the book for the use of English-speaking students. Thus a few
alterations have been made in dates and titles, chiefly under the English
systems and from the latest authorities; and a few notes added in
elucidation of portions of the text. Thus again the balance of the
bibliography has been somewhat changed, including transfers from text
to notes and vice versa and a few omissions, besides the introduction of
a number of titles from our English philosophical literature chosen on
the plan referred to in the preface to the first German edition. The
glossary of terms foreign to the German reader has been replaced by a
revision and expansion of the index, with the analyses of the glossary
as a basis. Wherever possible, and this has been true in all important
cases, the changes have been indicated by the usual signs.
The translator has further rewritten

Chapter XV.
, Section 3, on recent British and American Philosophy. In this so much
of the author's (historical) standpoint and treatment as proved
compatible with the aim of a manual in English has been retained, but
the section as a whole has been rearranged and much enlarged.
The labor of translation has been lightened by the example of previous
writers, especially of the translators of the standard treatises of
Ueberweg and Erdmann. The thanks of the translator are also due to
several friends who have kindly aided him by advice or assistance: in
particular to his friend and former pupil, Mr. C.M. Child, M.S., who
participated in the preparation of a portion of the translation; and above
all to Professor Falckenberg himself, who, by his willing sanction of
the work and his co-operation throughout its