Introduction to Philosophy

ed rests upon this psychical principle. The difficulty of finding unity in this variety increases in direct proportion as our idea of the world is enriched by scientific investigation. But this only furnishes new philosophic inspiration and the demand for unity becomes all the more intense. Hence we may safely assert that, notwithstanding the fact that the special sciences vigorously repudiate philosophic speculation and heap contempt upon it, the desire for philosophic knowledge will never cease. Although no philosophic system permanently satisfies, philosophy itself, according to the familiar saying of Schiller, will nevertheless endure forever. 3. The Historical Origin Of Philosophy The various civilized nations have elaborated systems of philosophy in entire independence of each other. The development of scientific philology during the nineteenth century has acquainted us with comprehensive philosophical speculations among the Chinese, Egyptians, Persians, and especially the Hindus, which are frequently profound. However, with the exception of a Very few thinkers of the nineteenth century, it is Greek philosophy alone, which has significance for the developmentof Western thought. Greek thought continued its activity throughout the entire period of the middle ages, contributed much to the enrichment and inspiration of modern philosophy, and its historical efficiency is not by any means spent even yet. The Greeks first raised the questions with which we are s...