Page:Philosophical Review Volume 3.djvu/746

730 No one can help being struck by the perfect mastery of this wide field which is evinced all through the volume. Despite the compact form in which the material is presented, however, the progress of the development is apt to be obscured by the mass of detail. A good deal of this detail is not strictly relevant, if the aim was to trace the development of historical speculation. While the means are put into the reader's hands, he is left to make out the development for himself; and as it stands, the book is rather an invaluable mine of historical material than an exhibition of the progress of historical thought. A general survey of the whole field would have been most useful, and in omitting to do this the author has let slip an opportunity of bearing out his contention that nationality is one of the most potent factors in giving form to historical speculation. Incisiveness and masterly conciseness of statement are prominent in criticism and exposition alike. The tone of the critical utterances is very high. The calm judicial impartiality displayed gives great weight to the author's opinion. Indeed, too much praise can hardly be given in this connection. Of the book as a whole one can only speak in terms of the highest praise, and it is to be hoped that Professor Flint will be able to complete the great plan he has sketched.

This work was first published seventeen years ago. The author was at that time a docent in the polytechnicum at Aachen. He is now Professor Ordinarius of Philosophy at Kiel. A second edition appeared in 1890, and from this Mr. Duff has prepared his translation for English readers. Dr. Deussen adopts the philosophical standpoint of Schopenhauer, and, without attempting to make any important original contribution to metaphysical doctrine, aims to set forth, "with the closest possible adherence," the system of that philosopher, although not in any respect renouncing independence of judgment. He believes that "the standpoint of the reconciliation of all contradictions has been attained in the main by mankind in the Idealism founded by Kant, and wrought out to perfection by his disciple Schopenhauer." So thoroughly has this conviction taken possession of Dr. Deussen, that he never finds any teaching of the master to be contradictory, vague, or even insufficient, and never