CONTENTS. I. ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNCONDITIONED; IN REFERENCE TO COUSIN'S INFINITO-ABSOLUTE.. (Oct. 1829.-Edinburgh Review, Vol. 1., No. xcix., pp. 194–221.) PAGE I. ON THE STUDY OF MATHEMATICS, AS AN EXERCISE OF MIND. 257 II. ON THE CONDITIONS OF CLASSICAL LEARNING. WITH RELA- II. APPENDIX, LOGICAL. (B.) ON AFFIRMATION AND NEGATION-ON PROPOSITIONAL FORMS- III. APPENDIX, EDUCATIONAL. (B.) THE EXAMINATION AND HONORS FOR A DEGREE IN ARTS, INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. THE remarkable passage, in which Pascal exhibits, in contrast, the greatness and the littleness of man, has received a striking illustration in the history of speculative philosophy. For, while it embraces some of the richest and profoundest truth ever given to the world, it abounds in the strangest absurdities. What Varro says upon this point is as true now as it was in his day: nihil tam absurde dici potest quod non dicatur ab aliquis philosophorum. And yet some of the greatest names in history adorn its annals-Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Leibnitz, Edwards, Kant, Vico, Schelling, Hegel, Reid, and though last, not least, Hamilton, universally acknowledged in Europe and in this country, as "the first philosophical critic of the age." ני Philosophy, too, has often mingled with the highest forms of literature -nay, more has penetrated into the life of whole nations, exalting, strengthening, and refining their character, by means of those august and beautiful thoughts— "Which wander through eternity. As an intellectual gymnasium it has proved of immense service to innu 1 Sir William Hamilton, Bart., is Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh. He is descended from a noble Scottish family, one of whom, it is said by De Quincey, drew sword at the celebrated battle of Drumclog. He was admired, even when a young man, for his extraordinary literary attainments. His friends called him the Walking Encyclopedia. De Quincey, a competent judge, pronounces this impression correct, and says, that not in the region of metaphysics alone, but in almost all other departments of knowledge, he was, even then, thoroughly read. His manners are simple and dignified; his whole character that of a great and a good man. Though rejecting ontological speculation in the domain both of philosophy and theology, he cherishes evidently the deepest veneration for the great truths not only of "natural religion," but of Christianity. He possesses a thorough contempt for the irreligious pantheism of the German philosophy, and especially for the mythic theory of Strauss and Bauer. No one, however, can become familiar with his writings without being impressed with his extraordinary candor, as well as his complete mastery of the entire field of philosophical speculation. His candor is not simply a moral quality, but the natural accompaniment of knowledge and power. |