A SHORT HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY BY ARCH. B. D. ALEXANDER, M.A. SECOND EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED FROM THE LIBRARY OF GLASGOW JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY 1908 PREFACE INCREASED attention has been devoted in recent years to historical studies. It will not be assumed that the history of action is worthier of consideration than the history of thought. While a number of books dealing with particular periods of philosophy have been written, it is somewhat remarkable that few, if any, English works have appeared treating of its general history. No subject is more frequently lectured upon in German Universities than the history of philosophy, and many of the larger treatises we possess are the products of such courses of lectures-some of the most notable of these have been made available through translation. But with the exception of Lewes' Biographical History-a book which is now half a century old, and one written to discredit all philosophy-and a small handbook in the Bohn edition which only came into my hands when my own book was completed-I know of no purely British work which treats of the entire course of European speculation. Though I dare not flatter myself that I have succeeded in supplying the want, it seems to me that there is a need for such a volume. The true introduction to philosophy is its history. For students and those who are interested in the progress of thought it is desirable to have a book of orientation in which one |