Page:Mind (Old Series) Volume 12.djvu/319

 306 NEW BOOKS. mysteries, not Oriental religious ideas, by which Heraclitus was influenced. The result is that the system of the Ephesian no longer presents itself as a "gloomily resigned pessimism," but as an "optimism of reason," and may almost be regarded as " the first speculative attempt at what has since been called a theodicy " (p. 31). The exposition of the system in the light of this vie'w is followed by an appendix (pp. 255-352) in which the author seeks to demonstrate an influence of Heraclitus on the books of Ecclesiastes and the Wisdom of Solomon. In a supplementary note (pp. 365-382) he further contends that this influence is perceptible in the earliest Christian documents, and especially in the fourth gospel. Geschichte der Christlichen Eihik. Von Dr. W. GASS. Zweiten Bandes erste Abtheilung. Sechzehntes und siebzehntes Jahrhundert. Die vorherrschend kirchliche Ethik. Berlin : G. Eeimer, 1886. Pp. xvi., 372. In the absence of the earlier and later parts of this work it is impossible to say what is its character as a whole. The present volume is concerned exclusively with the theological as distinguished from the philosophical ethics of the 16th and 17th centuries. After an introduction on " Humanism and the Reformation" (pp. 1-45), the ethical doctrines of the major and minor figures of the Reformation, the Jesuists and Jansenists, the Mystics and Pietists (Catholic and Protestant), and the smaller religious communities are successively described. There is a brief appendix (pp. 368-372) on the ethical doctrine of the Greek Church. Versuch einer concreten Logik. (Classification und Organisation der Wissenschaften.) Von Dr. THOMAS G. MASARYK, Professor an der Bohmischen Universitat in Prag. Wien : C. Konegen, 1887. Pp. xvi,, 318. This is the second (revised and enlarged) edition of a work which was published a year ago in Bohemian. By " concrete logic " the author understands what is ordinarily called " doctrine of method ". After an introduction (pp. 1-10), the whole work is divided into four books : i. " Classification of the Sciences" (pp. 11-39) ; ii. " The Organisation of the Sciences" (pp. 41-68) ; iii. " System of the Special Sciences " (pp. 69-246) ; iv. "Conception of Philosophy (= Metaphysics)" (pp. 249-304). The sciences are grouped into "practical" and "theoretical," and these last again into " abstract " and " concrete ". In this division as in the hierarchy of the " abstract sciences " (pp. 71-187), the author follows Comte, differing from him chiefly in claiming for psychology the position of an independent science. Comte's classification is defended (with some concessions) against Mr. Spencer, and Mr. Spencer's classification criticised (pp. 34-38). The author notes a certain " sociological colouring " of his own work, and explains it by the circumstance that sociology is the science in which (together with psychology) his special interests lie. He has devoted much attention to English thinkers, and English influence is evident throughout. Altogether the book is founded on wide study, and in detail is accurate and impartial. The author proposes following it up by a more extensive work. Religionspliilosophie. Von GUSTAV TEICHMULLER, ordentl. Professor der Philosophic an der Universitat Dorpat. Breslau : W. Koebner, 1886. Pp. xlvi., 558. Prof. Teichmuller's object in this work is by a criticism of all possible religions, or " logical chemistry of the religious life," to prepare the way for a new " Christian philosophy ". In Part i. of his book (" Foundations,"