Metaphysics, or, the philosophy of consciousness, phenomenal and real / by Henry Longueville Mansel.

  • Henry Longueville Mansel
Date:
1860
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Metaphysics, or, the philosophy of consciousness, phenomenal and real / by Henry Longueville Mansel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    from nature the higher mission to be the preservers of this sacred fire, as the Eumolpidse of Athens were intrusted with the preservation of the Eleusinian mys- teries/’* Between these opposite conceptions of Meta- physics or Philosophy (for in the language of Hegel the two terms may he regarded as synonymous), it is not easy for an expositor to select his point of view. A definition of Metaphysics .which would include both would he defective philosophically from its vagueness ; one which would exclude either would he defective historically from its incompleteness. To omit the view indicated by Hegel would he to neglect the whole of the ancient and a great part of the modern history of the science. To omit the view indicated by Stewart would he to overlook almost entirely the important share which the writers of our own country have contributed towards * jHegel’s Werice, vol. xiii. p. 4. English philosophy, name and thing, is especially honoured with the contempt of this critic. “ The natural sciences,’’ he says, “are in England denominated Philosophy. An English Philosophical Journal treats of chemistry, agriculture, and manure, of housekeeping and professional knowledge, and communicates discoveries in these departments. The English call physical instruments, such as the barometer and thermometer, philosophical instruments. The- ories, especially in morals and moral sciences, which are derived from the feelings of the human heart or from experience, are called Philo- sophy, as well as those which contain principles of political economy. Thus the name at least of Philosophy is honoured in England.” Ibid. p. 72. See also vol. vi. p. 13. In the same spirit are dictated his cri- ticisms on Bacon, Locke, and Newton ; the latter of whom, he says, has exhibited in his Optics a perfect specimen of the manner in which expe- riment and reasoning should not be conducted.
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