268 PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT. 



does, valuable ideas from many and apparently antagon- 

 istic sources. But he is distinguished from them by his 

 frequently successful endeavours to harmonise apparent 

 contrasts in a higher unity. Thus we find that he was 

 early regarded as a protagonist for a mechanical view of 

 all phenomena, and that much later his metaphysical 

 position has been adopted by theologians of the positive 

 school. Accordingly, his philosophical writings occupy, 

 not only in time but also in importance, a central 

 position in the philosophical thought of the nineteenth 

 century, and we shall in the sequel have again and 

 again to revert to them. 1 



As I said above, modern psychology may be dated 



from the appearance of Lotze's writings. But if we 



wish to find out what is meant by modern psychology, 



it is of interest to note the very different con- 



52. ceptions we meet with on this point. I single out 



Various lines , 



in recent three prominent writers who have delivered themselves 



psychology. 



on the subject, and who may be considered as represent- 



1 Outside of Germany the writ- 

 ings of Lotze have received most 

 attention in this country and in the 

 United States of America, least 

 in France. Most of his important 

 works have been translated into 

 English, and have run through 



Lectures was not yet completely 

 published, and when little had been 

 written in the way of criticism even 

 in Germany. Since that time a very 

 large literature has sprung up both 

 in German and in English, and a 

 great deal has been done to explain, 



several editions. I am not aware ; to criticise, and to make his teach- 

 that of any of his larger works a ings better known. To some of 

 complete translation has been pub- j these important contributions I 

 lished in France, though prominent shall have occasion to refer in the 

 thinkers, such as Renouvier,Fouillee, ! sequel. There seems to me no 

 and Boutroux, take note of his j doubt that the spirit and manner 

 teachings. I regret that the latest [ of his speculation is more and more 

 edition of the ' Encyclopaedia I entering into philosophical litera- 

 Britannica ' contains only a muti- ture, and that a study even of his 

 lated reprint of an article I sup- less known writings would be 

 plied in the year 1882. It was peculiarly appropriate in the present 

 written shortly after the death of state of thought in all the three 

 Lotze, when the Syllabus of his ' countries I am dealing with. 



