Page:Immanuel Kant - Dreams of a Spirit-Seer - tr. Emanuel Fedor Goerwitz (1900).djvu/38



With these sober and rational conclusions of Professor Vaihinger regarding Kant's relation to existing "mysticism," meaning, as he doubtless does, modern "spiritism," every one will concur, and none more readily and heartily than the followers and admirers of Swedenborg. He more impressively and more effectually than any subsequent writer has warned his readers against the delusions and snares of the so-called modern "medium" and the mis-named "spiritual" seance. We would only call attention here to the misapprehension to which the concluding note of Professor Vaihinger might give rise, namely, that, because Kant rejects the absurdities of modern spiritism, therefore we are to cancel from his system all influences from Swedenborg's teaching. As matter of fact, a student equally conversant with both systems — those of Kant and Swedenborg—would see in the reserve of Kant over against Swedenborg's "revelations from things seen and heard" the only attitude possible to a critical student of the powers of pure reason to evolve knowledge a priori or from itself. The great mission of Kant was to establish just