CJLtJ 



mTT|7 



NEW SERIES. 



No. LXIV.— JANUAEY, 1867. 



SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON'S PHILOSOPHY : AN EXPOSI- 

 TION AND CRITICISM. 



BY THE REV. J. CLARK MURRAY, 



PEOrESSOa of MENTAI and MOKAL philosophy, queen's college, KINGSTOSr. 



I. SCOTTISH PHILOSOPHY. 



I propose to present in this Journal a series of articles on Sir Wil- 

 liam Hamilton and his philosophy. Whatever value one may 

 ascribe to the work which Sir William has performed in the world, it 

 cannot be doubted that he is the representative of a very extensive 

 philosophical school at the present day, and that for some time it will 

 be required by friends and foes alike, that that school shall be esti- 

 mated as it is represented in his writings. The philosophy, of which 

 Hamilton is the most distinguished exponent, he regards as being 

 identical, in its fundamental positions, with that which is known in 

 our histories of philosophy as the Scottish School ; and it is conse- 

 quently of importance, if it be not absolutely necessary, in order to 

 the scientific comprehension of Hamilton's philosophy itself, that it 

 should be studied in its relation to the national philosophy of his 

 country, of which it is ostensibly an exposition and defence. I shall 

 Vol. XI. p 



