Zeller, Windelband, Ueberweg-Heinze, Harms, Lange, Vorlãnder, and Pünjer. The motive which induced us to take up the present work was the perception that there was lacking a text-book in the history of modern philosophy, which, more comprehensive, thorough, and precise than the sketches of Schwegler and his successors, should stand between the fine but detailed exposition of Windelband, and the substantial but--because of the division of the text into paragraphs and notes and the interpolation of pages of bibliographical references--rather dry outline of Ueberweg. While the former refrains from all references to the literature of the subject and the latter includes far too many, at least for purposes of instruction, and J.B. Meyer's _Leitfaden_ (1882) is in general confined to biographical and bibliographical notices; we have mentioned, in the text or the notes and with the greatest possible regard for the progress of the exposition, both the chief works of the philosophers themselves and some of the treatises concerning them. The principles which have guided us in these selections--to include only the more valuable works and those best adapted for students' reading, and further to refer as far as possible to the most recent works--will hardly be in danger of criticism. But we shall not dispute the probability that many a book worthy of mention may have been overlooked. The explanation of a number of philosophical terms, which has been added as an appendix at the suggestion of the publishers, deals almost entirely with foreign expressions and gives the preference to the designations of fundamental movements. It is arranged, as far as possible, so that it may be used as a subject-index. JENA, December 23, 1885. PREFACE TO THE SECOND GERMAN EDITION. The majority of the alterations and additions in this new edition are in the first chapter and the last two; no departure from the general character of the exposition has seemed to me necessary. I desire to return my sincere thanks for the suggestions which have come to me alike from public critiques and private communications. In some cases contradictory requests have conflicted--thus, on the one hand, I have been urged to expand, on the other, to cut down the sections on German idealism, especially those on Hegel--and here I confess my inability to meet both demands. Among the reviews, that by B. Erdmann in the first volume of the _Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie_, and, among the suggestions made by letter, those of H. Heussler, have been of especial value. Since others commonly see defects more clearly than one's self, it will be very welcome if I can have my desire continually to make this _History_ more useful supported by farther suggestions from the circle of its readers. In case it continues to enjoy the favor of teachers and students, these will receive conscientious consideration.