A USEFUL historical survey, chiefly descriptive but partly critical. The author's primary object is to give a short and accurate description of the leading Greek ethical systems and of those systems which represent the best type of modern philosophic ethics, from Hobbes to the end of the nineteenth century; secondarily, to show, by criticism and comparison, the connecting links between systems and the movements of thought by which new systems arise. Some familiar names are omitted, where the type of thought has already been illustrated by other thinkers; e.g. Reid is represented by Butler, and the French empiricists by Hume. Such recent systems as those of Wundt, Paulsen, Nietzsche, and the pragmatists are also omitted. The systems most lengthily considered are those of Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, the German idealists culminating in Hegel, and the English utilitarians through Bentham, Mill, Spencer, and Sidgwick to T. H. Green, whose doctrine specially commands the author's admiration.

Part I Origins: The larger environment - the origins and condition of Kant's Germany the larger environment (continued) - the intellectual perspective, eclecticism, cross-currents of rationalism, empiricism, and sentimentalism the nearer environment - parentage, home and school, pietism the nearer environment (continued) - academic influences, society and urban life, the inner man. Part II Development: the period of scientific eclecticism the period of hesitation the end of an epoch. Part III The philosophical revolution: the theoretical consequences of the critical philosophy the critical philosophy and the function of the moral life the teleological aspect of experience and religion.

Previous articleNext article FreeThe Meaning of Literature for PhilosophyErnest AlbeeErnest Albee Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 20, Number 1Oct., 1909 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/intejethi.20.1.2376972 Views: 38 Journal History This article was published in The International Journal of Ethics (1890-1938), which is continued by Ethics (1938-present). PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.