ONE can hardly fail to be impressed by the wide reading which is in evidence in Dr. Lindsay's latest volume, ranging at it does from the Oriental philosophies to the, -in some instances relatively obscure, - men and movements of modern France, Italy, and Spain. In fact the book almost constitutes a history of philosophy along certain rather narrow lines, and without much effort at connecting links. The titles of the more historical chapters are as follows: Oriental Philosophy, Plato and Aristotle on Substance, Greek ...
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ONE can hardly fail to be impressed by the wide reading which is in evidence in Dr. Lindsay's latest volume, ranging at it does from the Oriental philosophies to the, -in some instances relatively obscure, - men and movements of modern France, Italy, and Spain. In fact the book almost constitutes a history of philosophy along certain rather narrow lines, and without much effort at connecting links. The titles of the more historical chapters are as follows: Oriental Philosophy, Plato and Aristotle on Substance, Greek Philosophy of Religion, Ethical Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. Doctrine of the Logos, Gnosticism as a Philosophy of Religion, Augustine's Philosophy of History, Origen, Plotinus, Scholastic and Medieval Philosophy, Aquinas, Wyclif, Spinoza, Lessing's and Kant's Philosophy of Religion, and the chapters on modern Continental philosophy already mentioned. The selection of topics will indicate that for the most part it is the concepts which connect themselves closely with religion and theology in which the author has a particular interest. His own philosophy is constantly in the background as a critical standard, and in several somewhat more general and constructive chapters is given fuller expression, -chapters XX, XXI, XXII, and, especially, XVI, which is called a Constructive Essay in Idealism. Dr. Lindsay is concerned to recommend perhaps two things in particular: the rights of reason, of the speculative instinct as opposed for example to a too exclusive insistence on practical or moral interests, and, secondly, the claims of personality and of freedom, particularly the former, in the interpretation of the universe, alike in God and man. This philosophy of his own, which he calls Theistic Idealism, has frankly a theological bias, and is essentially the historically familiar form of British Theism, interpreted and enriched through an acquaintance with modern critical tendencies, -a universe conceived in terms of a God alike transcendent and immanent, a world of matter really existent but created, and the human soul, also existing for itself, but with the life of God immanent within it. The conclusions are for the most part set forth rather than systematically argued, - set forth most persuasively where the ethical and spiritual implications are concerned. On the more purely metaphysical side there is left the impression at times of a certain lack of rigor, though perhaps this is only due to the mode of treatment. Dr. Lindsay's rationalism is of the modest type familiar in recent times, and is, quite justifiably I should say, ready to admit the limitations of actual human knowledge; in his own words, it is part of human wisdom to be willing to be ignorant of some things with equanimity. Philosophical difficulties are not necessarily fatal; to quote again, there are elements that belong to the larger logic of life against which verbal quibblings do not avail. Nevertheless, I am a little inclined to think that Dr. Lindsay settles back on the limitations of knowledge rather too easily when he comes to the obscure places in his own theory, for example in the concepts of the material world and of creation. On the whole, however, he represents an attitude which, though doubtless it is much less imposing and up-to-date in appearance than some of the popular tendencies, seems to me to be deserving of a renewed and careful consideration. The historical chapters cover too much ground to be easily dealt with except in general terms. They differ naturally in value. In some cases the ground is rather too familiar to appeal much to the philosophical reader (though the less instructed will find it useful), and occasionally the treatment is too sketchy to be satisfactory, - this would be my judgment of the chapter on French philosophy. But there is left much which will be found interesting and instructive... - The Philosophical Review , Volume 18
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 750grams, ISBN:
