Logic (Sigwart)/Volume 1/Preface to second edition

AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO SECOND GERMAN EDITION
the fifteen years which have passed since this book first appeared the literature of logic has been enriched by a remarkable series of valuable books. Important works have appeared by Lotze, Schuppe, Wundt and Bradley—to name only the most eminent; and all start from the conception which has guided this attempt. That is, logic is grounded by them, not upon an effete tradition, but upon a new investigation of thought as it actually is in its psychological foundations, in its significance for knowledge and its actual operation in scientific methods. Particular points of logic, again, have received welcome elucidations from more special investigations, and amongst these Windelband’s studies on the negative judgment, Meinong’s treatment of relational-concepts, and Volkelt’s acute and original treatise are most nearly akin to my views.

It has thus become incumbent upon me to test anew my own views by the conclusions arrived at by my fellow-workers, to find more accurate expression where misunderstanding might arise, and elsewhere to amplify and extend, or to fortify against adverse opinions. But for the reasons already stated in my first preface, I have been obliged to refrain from incorporating more extensively in the work the considerations which determined me to adhere to my conclusions, or from mentioning in detail all the critical observations which have been so abundantly bestowed. Where these criticisms were really applicable to what I had said, I have gratefully made use of them; where they were due merely to misunderstandings, I was loth to weary the reader with unfruitful discussions. In the same way I have been forced to abstain from enriching the work by introducing more freely investigations not included in its original design, even though I might agree with them; the subject is so inexhaustible that completeness is not attainable, and I would rather sacrifice the appearance of completeness in treatment than obscure the clearness of the design.


 * , October, 1888.