(1) Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society (2) Encyclopædia of the Philosophical Sciences (3) Evolution by Cooperation (4) The Science of the Sciences (5) Probleme der Entwicklung des Geistes (6) Naturphilosophische Plaudereien

Abstract

PLATO dreamed of a dialectic that should be the science of the sciences, and philosophers have often assumed that philosophy is the essence of knowledge, into which are distilled the results of empirical research. Metaphysical logic may be considered to assist science by suggesting new modes of generalisation, new points of view for classified facts. Darwin's theory of natural selec tion was a philosophical view; so is Bergson's estimate of mind. Every -ism is of this nature; Weismannism and Mendelism, neo-Darwinism and Pragmatism, are examples. Mathematics is equally suggestive of new generalisations; the work of Galton and of Karl Pearson are cases in point. The Φζ formula of Mr. William Schooling is perhaps the most recent. But it is arguable that all such generalisations are ultimately themselves suggested by new facts, and simply show the mind's plasticity of reaction to new environments. It is arguable that they are inevitable and obvious, once given the particular concatenation of facts suggesting them, but that the discovery of new concatenations of facts is not at all beholden to philosophical suggestion. It is said that the inductive idea suggested to Bacon a new mode of research; on the contrary, it was the increase in observed facts and new concatenations of facts that suggested the inductive idea.

(1) Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society.

New Series. Vol. xiii. Pp. 375. (London: Williams and Norgate, 1913.) Price 10s. 6d. net.

(2) Encyclopædia of the Philosophical Sciences.

Vol. i.: Logic. By A. Ruge, W. Windelband, J. Royce., and others. Translated by B. Ethel Meyer. Pp. x + 269. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price 7s. 6d. net.

(3) Evolution by Cooperation.

A Study in Bio-Economics. By H. Reinheimer. Pp. xiv + 200. (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price 3s. 6d. net.

(4) The Science of the Sciences.

By H. Jamyn Brooks. Pp. 312 + ix. (London: David Nutt, n.d.) Price 3s. 6d. net.

(5) Probleme der Entwicklung des Geistes.

Die Geistesformen. By S. Meyer. Pp. v + 429. Leipzig: J. A. Barth, 1913.) Price 13 marks.

(6) Naturphilosophische Plaudereien.

By H. Potonié. Pp. v + 194. (Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1913.) Price 2 marks.