Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/23

xvi with, also proves that they have some chance of growing better." For two or three years before he published his ' Institutes of Metaphysic ' (in 1854), he had regularly developed to his hearers, proposition by proposition, the theory contained in that work. On this theory he frequently corresponded with his friends. It may fairly be presumed that in addressing a subtle metaphysical thinker, capable among few other Englishmen of estimating what had been done for philosophy by Kant, and better acquainted than most with the later labours of Kant's successors, Mr Ferrier would especially aim at aiding the impression which his own new speculations might produce, by distinctness and forcible lucidity in announcing them. For this reason there is inserted at a later page in this volume a letter written to Mr De Quincey, who had for some time regarded Ferrier as the metaphysician of highest promise among his contemporaries in England or Scotland, and had expressed his conviction in a warmly eulogistic testimonial, which the letter gratefully acknowledges. Letters to various other friends remain, written about the same time on the same subject; but none more characteristic, or exhibiting in clearer outlines the nucleus of his theory.

This work reached a second edition in 1856. It called forth various criticisms, some of which he noticed in a pamphlet, entitled ' Scottish Philosophy,