Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

PESSIMISM

A HISTORY AND A CRITICISM

BY

JAMES SULLY, M.A.

AUTHOR OF

'SENSATION AND INTUITION: STUDIES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND ESTHETICS'

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

30788

VIMU

S&

(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved)

[ocr errors][merged small]

PREFACE.

THE present work consists almost exclusively of matter not previously published. Yet to avoid misapprehension it may be well to say that some of my objections to the pessimist's view of life are to be found in an essay on this subject in the Cornhill Magazine, April 1876; that my account of Hartmann is partly reprinted from an article on this writer in the Fortnightly Review, August 1876; and finally that the analysis of Schopenhauer's character may be found roughly sketched in a criticism of Miss Zimmern's biography of the pessimist in the Examiner, February 19, 1876. I need hardly add that these articles are from my own pen.

I have great pleasure in acknowledging the assistance lent me by my friend Mr. F. Y. EDGEWORTH, M.A., of Balliol College, to whose careful perusal of the proof-sheets I am indebted for numerous improvements both in the argument and in the style of the work.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II.

UNREASONED OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM.

Varieties of these beliefs-Crude forms-Higher forms-Function of ideals
in the rival beliefs-Poetic optimism: Wordsworth-Instinctive
pessimism: The Bible-Greek literature-Roman literature: as per-
sonal element in Roman philosophers-Persian literature-Omar
Khayyam-Eighteenth century writers: Diderot, Jonathan Swift-
Recent poetry: Shelley-Byron-Heine-Lenau-Leopardi-Lamar-
tine-Philosophers: Schelling's 'Night-Watches'

CHAPTER III.

REASONED OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM.

Characteristics of reasoned forms-Varieties according to the subject
matter-According to the arguments employed-Modes of getting rid
of the evil of the world-Historical review: The theology of the
Hebrews-Indian philosophy-Greek religious thought-Early Greek
speculation-The Sceptics-The Ethicists-Metaphysics of Plato,
Aristotle, &c.-The Alexandrine philosophy-The Christian doctrine of
life-The Fathers-Free-will and predestination-The Schoolmen-
Giordano Bruno-Spinoza-Theodicy of Leibnitz-English writers of
the eighteenth century: optimism in the theological disputes-Shaftes-

PAGE

1

« ÖncekiDevam »