"The appearance of a philosopher like Nietzsche is a symptom of the times. He is one representative among several others of an anti-scientific tendency. The author here characterizes him as a poet rather than a thinker, as a leader and an exponent of certain unruly and immature minds. Though his philosophy is severely criticised, though it is weighed and found wanting, his personality is described not without sympathy and with an appreciation of his genius. His predecessor, Max Stirner, and other kindred spirits less known than Nietzsche are also introduced, and if the reader adopts the author's views he will condemn the tendencies and thoughts of these erratic philosophers but at the same time appreciate their aspirations and love them in their very errors. The fundamental error of them all is an extreme individualism which regards every single person as an absolute autonomous sovereign being, while a consideration of the origin of personality proves them to have originated within and under the influence of the social surroundings of communities from which they cannot be separated and of which they are and will forever remain parts. In this relation of the individual to society lie the roots of ethics. The individual cannot cut himself loose from his social surroundings without doing harm to himself; and the rules which this interrelation imposes upon the several members of society constitute an obligation which we call duty." _Established in 1887_ The Open Court Publishing Company Scientific and Educational Books 122 South Michigan Avenue, CHICAGO IMPORTANT NEW BOOKS THE SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR By Annie S. Peck _Author of_ "A Search for the Apex of America" _With 87 illustrations mainly from photographs by the author._ This is the first guide to THE SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR which is adequate and up-to-date in its treatment, dealing importantly with the subject both in its commercial and pleasure aspects. *_8vo. Net $2.50_* A BOOKMAN'S LETTERS By Sir W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D. These papers here collected, forty-eight in all, deal with various literary personalities, problems and impressions and show Sir William Nicoll in his most genial and leisured spirit. *_Octavo. Net $1.75_* ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S EDINBURGH DAYS By E. Blantyre Simpson The hitherto untold record of the boyhood days of Stevenson--the most valuable recent contribution to Stevensoniana. *_Fully illustrated. Octavo. Net $2.00_* MADAME ROYALE By Ernest Daudet