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"Man is not born to solve the mystery of Existence; but he must,
nevertheless, attempt it, in order that he may learn to know how to keep
within the limits of the Knowable."-GÖTHE.

"For I doubt not through the ages one increasing purpose runs,

And the thoughts of men are widened by the process of the suns."

TENNYSON.

SERIES II.-FROM BACON TO THE PRESENT DAY.

VOLUME III.

LONDON:

C. COX, 12, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND.

1851.

London: Printed by W. CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street,

PREFACE.

THE present series exhibits so great a divergence from the ordinary route, that a word in explanation may not be superfluous. The omission of several familiar names, and the disproportionate length at which some articles are treated, might otherwise be regarded as negligence or caprice. If I have sinned in this respect, it has been upon system. Important as it was that the account of Modern Philosophy should not exceed two volumes (for if it had exceeded that quantity, it might as well. have run to half-a-dozen), my first consideration was to unite fulness with brevity. An account of all the moderns would havé occupied treble the space; unless I had contented myself with a skeleton of facts, repulsive in its rigidity. Driven to a selection, the nature of this work at once determined the principle of selection. As it is the History and not the Annals of Philosophy, only such names as represent the various schools have been chosen. Thus, I have given Descartes, but none of his school; Spinoza, but no Spinozist; Locke, but no Lockist; Kant, but no Kantist.

With regard to the length at which each subject has been treated, I was determined, first, by the importance of the ideas to be exposed (hence the great stress laid upon Methods, and all fundamental topics), and secondly, by the means of information accessible to the general reader: so that he might find in these volumes that which he could not find elsewhere

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