370 



NOTES TO BOOK IV. 



(K.) p. 268. SINCE the publication of my first edition, 

 an account of Algazel or Algazzali and his works has been 

 published under the title of Essai sur les Ecoles Philoso- 

 phiques chez les Arabes, et notamment sur la Doctrine cfAl- 

 gazzali, par August Schmolders. Paris. 1842. From this 

 book it appears that Degerando's account of Algazzali is 

 correct, when he says T that " his skepticism seems to have 

 essentially for its object to destroy all systems of merely 

 rational theology, in order to open an indefinite career, 

 not only to faith guided by revelation, but also to the 

 free exaltation of a mystical enthusiasm." It is remarked 

 by Dr. Schmolders, following M. de Hammer-Purgstall, 

 that the title of the work referred to in the text ought 

 rather to be Mutual Refutation of the Philosophers : and 

 that its object is to shew that Philosophy consists of a 

 mass of systems, each of which overturns the others. 

 The work of Algazzali which Dr. Schmolders has published, 

 On the Err ours of Sects, #c., contains a kind of autographi- 

 cal account of the way in which the author was led to his 

 views. He does not reject the truths of science, but he 

 condemns the mental habits which are caused by laying 

 too much stress upon science. Religious men, he says, 

 are, by such a course, led to reject all science, even what 

 relates to eclipses of the moon and sun ; and men of 

 science are led to hate religion 2 . 



1 Hist. Comp. iv. p. 227. 2 Essai, p. 33. 



