spheres are distinct for human experience, often implies that the distinction is not final, being due to the present limitation of our faculties. The two apparently opposite schools of Rational Idealism and Pragmatism agree at least on this point that our practical and speculative Reason have a common root. The Ethics of the "moral sense school is the least dependent on metaphysics, but this is not in its favour, being merely the result of superficiality. I have written a comparatively long " Introduction,” in the hope that it will be useful to those who are beginning the subject; it is intended chiefly to define the scope of Ethics, and to give an idea of the nature of the problems that arise. Fixed meanings are given to some words for the sake of definiteness, but it will be found that few systems have a precise terminology, and that the terminologies of those which are precise differ inter se. This inexactness is partly due to the fact that writers on Ethics often treat the subject as a branch of popular literature rather than as an exact science, partly to the fact that the ideas of Ethics are so complex and so liable to change and development, even in the individual mind, that it becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to combine. philosophic breadth with precision in the use of terms. Spinoza, in his Ethica, was able to overcome this difficulty, but it is a curious fact that no one else uses his terminology and definitions, and that his admirers have found it necessary to explain his thoughts in language less precise than his own. Besides the works of the writers themselveswhere this was possible—I have used various histories of philosophy, especially Ritter and Preller's Historia Philosophiae Graecae, the histories of Ueberweg and Windelband, and Höffding's History of Modern Philosophy. In dealing with Hegel, I have made use of the language of Wallace's translations. I desire to express my gratitude to Dr. Mahaffy for reading the proof-sheets and giving me the benefit of his wide experience, and to Professor J. I. Beare and Mr. G. W. Mooney for many useful criticisms and suggestions. |