The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Vol. I. THE JOURNAL OF SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY. VOL. I. EDITED BY WM. T. HARRIS. ST. LOUIS, MO.: GEORGE KNAPP & CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1867. KRAUS REPRINT CO. New York 1968 KRAUS REPRINT CO. A U.S. Division of Kraus-Thomson Organization Limited Printed in Germany Lessingdruckerei in Wiesbaden PREFACE. In concluding the first volume of this Journal, the editor wishes to say a few things regarding its contents, even at the risk of repeating, in some cases, what has already been said. He hopes that his judgment in the selection of articles will be, in the main, approved. In so novel an undertaking it is not to be expected that the proper elevation and range will be found at once. But the editor thinks that he has acquired some valuable experience that will aid him in preparing the second volume. The reader will notice, upon looking over the table of contents, that about one-third of the articles relate to Art, and hence recommend themselves more especially to those who seek artistic culture, and wish at the same time to have clear conceptions regarding it. It is, perhaps, a mistake to select so little that bears on physical science, which is by far the most prominent topic of interest at the present day. In order to provide for this, the editor hopes to print in the next volume detailed criticisms of the “Positive Philosophy,” appreciating its advantages and defects of method and system. The “Development Theory,” the “Correlation of Physical, Vital and Mental Forces,” the abstract theories in our text-books on Natural Philosophy, regarding the nature of attraction, centrifugal and centripetal forces, light, heat, electricity, chemical elements, &c., demand the investigation of the speculative thinker. The exposition of Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit will furnish pertinent thoughts relating to method.