die3 ftill keeps up the Jhadow of Metaphyfics. One fingle 
Academy of Sciences (Berlin) ftill induces by its pre¬ 
miums now and then attempts in this obfolete Art-, for 
among well-grounded Sciences Metaphyfics are now no 
longer ranked, and we can ealily judge how any man of 
fenfe in our days would receive the compliment of being 
ftyled a great Metaphyfician ! 
But, though the feafon of the decay of all Dogmatical 
Metaphyfics is indubitably arrived, there is a long- and 
dull period yet to pafs before the term of the regeneration 
of a new Science, the legitimate though tardy offspring 
of a found and complete Critic of Reafon, lhall fully ar¬ 
rive. All tranfition from one propenfity to its oppofite 
pafles through the fate of indifference, a ftate' certainly 
unfavourable to an author, but, as it appears to me, 
highly advantageous to Science. For, after the entire 
dillolution of all former connexions, when party-fpirit is 
quite extinft, the mind is in the very belt Hate gradually 
to receive propofals for new connexions, agreeably to a 
new plan. 
When I fay, that I hope thefe Prolegomena will tend 
to excite fome enquiry into “CriticaI, Philosophy,’' 
to revive the genuine fpirit of Philofophy, which in its 
fpeculative part has long wanted nourilhment, and to 
prefent to it a new and very promifing lubjeft of enter¬ 
tainment, I can eafily imagine that ail thofe who are 
weary and out of humour with the thorny paths through 
which I have led them in the “ Critic,” will be ready to 1 
alk me upon what I found this hope ? I anfwer, Upon 
the irrejyiible law of Nccejjity. 
That Man lhould ever entirely relinquilh Metaphyfical 
invelfigations, is as little to be feared as that, in order 
not to breathe impure'air, he lhould give up breathing 
altogether. Metaphysics will therefore always remain in 
the world; and, what is more, will exill in the mind of 
every man, and particularly in that of the thinking man. 
But, as that which has hitherto been called Metaphyfics 
can fatisfy no enquiring mind, and as it is impodible to 
renounce Metaphyfics altogether, a “ Critic of Pure 
Reason” itfelf mull at hit be attempted ; or, if fuck a 
“Critic” be.already extant, it must be investigated. 
The following fuccinfl and fyllematic account of the Elements,. Axioms, and Definitions of the terms employed in 
the Science of Metaphysics, will, it is hoped, ferve to render the whole fubjefl clear and intelligible. It may alfo 
tend to lighten the labour of thofe who undertake to inveftigate the Source whence Metaphyfics as a J'cience originally 
lpring. Transcendental Philosophy is that fource ; and it will be found to l\e a complete whole, as delivered 
to the world, by the immortal Kant, in his great work entitled the “ Critic of Pure Reason,” firfl publilhed 
in the year 1781. 
