PHILOSOPHY AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BY JOSEPH A. LEIGHTON, PH.D., LL.D. PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Copyright, 1918, 1919, by Joseph Alexander Leighton PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1-19-38 PREFACE Many years experience in teaching introductory courses in philosophy led me to conclude, some years ago, that the best method is a combination of the historical and the topical or systematic methods. A beginning course which attempts to cover, in detail, the entire History of European and American Philosophy is beyond the grasp of most beginners. They are bewildered by the constant succession of theories not easily distinguishable, and become confused as to the fundamental issues and standpoints. They fail to get the connections between philosophy and the general culture of a period. On the other hand, a purely topical and systematic introduction does not bring the student into contact with the most significant historical developments of philosophy. He does not, in this way, begin to see what rôle philosophy has played in the life of civilization. The increasing lack of a common cultural perspective, on the part of students, makes it imperative to supply something in the way of a historical background. I am of the opinion that a sketch of the historical growth of Greek philosophy best meets this need, because of the simplicity and logical symmetry and completeness with which it unfolds. On the other hand, when the student comes to the beginning of modern thought he immediately meets problems, concepts and theories that still function largely in our intellectual life. I have, therefore, in the present outline presented: first, a rapid historical sketch of the development of occidental philosophy from its beginnings up to the opening of modern thought; and have followed this with a more systematic and critical survey of the chief |