PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. Ir was my design, soon after this volume was published, to subject it to a thorough revision, and make such corrections in the text as were evidently needed. I found myself, however, unable at the time to accomplish my intention, in consequence of several other unexpected and imperative obligations; and, subsequently, by reason of a long period of imperfect health. I have devoted to this work the first leisure that I have been able to command; and have corrected the text with all the attention in my power. I hope that I have improved it. In this labor I have been greatly assisted by the aid of another. Some time since, I received from an anonymous friend a copious list of valuable corrections, of which I have freely availed myself. I take this method of expressing my sincere gratitude to my unknown benefactor; and I beg him to receive my thanks for his careful reading of the text, and for his many valuable suggestions. Most of these I have thankfully adopted. PROVIDENCE, R. I., May, 1865. F. WAYLAND. PREFACE. THE following pages contain the substance of the Lectures which, for several years, have been delivered to the classes in Intellectual Philosophy, in Brown University. Having been intended for oral delivery, they were, in many respects, modified by the circumstances of their origin. Hence, illustrations have been introduced more freely than would otherwise have seemed necessary. In preparing them for the press, however, I was led to consider the class of persons for whose use they were principally designed. I remembered the difficulty of fixing definitely in the mind of the pupil the nature and limits of subjective truth; and therefore allowed my instructions to retain in general the form which they had previously assumed. Whether I have in this respect judged wisely, it is not for me to determine. I have not entered upon the discussion of many of the topics which have called into exercise the acumen of the ablest metaphysicians. Intended to serve the purposes of a text-book, it was necessary that the volume should be compressed within a compass adapted to the time usually allotted to the study of this science in the colleges of our country. I have, therefore, attempted to present and illustrate the important truths in intellectual philosophy, rather than the inferences which may be drawn from them, or the doctrines which they may presuppose. These may be pursued to any length, at the option of the teacher. If I have not entered upon these discussions, I hope that I have prepared the way for their more ample and truthful develop ment. It has been my desire to render this work an aid to mental improvement. For this purpose, I have added practical sug gestions on the cultivation of the several faculties. Earnestminded young men frequently err in their attempts at self-improvement. It has seemed to me, therefore, that a work of this kind would be manifestly imperfect, did it not, directly as well as indirectly, aid the student in his efforts to discipline and strengthen his intellectual energies. In order to encourage more extensive reading upon the subject than can be furnished in a text-book, I have added references to a number of works of easy access, specifying the places in which the topics treated of were discussed. In this labor, I have availed myself of the assistance of my former pupils, Mr. SAMUEL BROOKS, now instructor in Greek, in this University, and Mr. Lucius W. BANCROFT, of Worcester, Mass. To these gentlemen the student is indebted for whatever benefit he may derive from this feature of the work. For the many imperfections of this volume, the author consoles himself with the reflection, that it has been written and prepared for the press under the pressure of other important and frequently distracting avocations. In the humble hope that it may, nevertheless, facilitate the study of this interesting department of human knowledge, it is, with diffidence, submitted to the judgment of the public. BROWN UNIVERSITY, Sept 14, 1854. |