to a determined goal; of its gradual and steady rise to the
supreme
heights of idealism, its subsequent decline, and ultimate
collapse,
are not only profoundly impressive as historical phenom-
ena, but are of
vital importance to a true conception of philosophy itself.
Were it
not for this, Mr. Wells would, I think, be right, and I for
one should
abandon treatment in historical order altogether. Lastly, I
may remark
that the description of this book as acriticalhistory means
that it
is, or attempts to be critical, not of dates, texts, readings,
and the
like, but of philosophical conceptions.
I owe a debt of thanks to Mr. F. L. Woodward, M.A., late
principal of
Mahinda College, Galle, Ceylon, for assisting me in the
compilation of
the index of names, and in sundry other matters.
W.T.S.
January, 1920.
{xiii}
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE IDEA OF PHILOSOPHY IN GENERAL. THE
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY 1
II. THE IONICS. THALES. ANAXIMANDER.
ANAXIMENES. OTHER IONIC THINKERS 20
III. THE PYTHAGOREANS 31
IV. THE ELEATICS. XENOPHANES. PARMENIDES.
ZENO. CRITICAL REMARKS ON ELEATICISM 40
V. HERACLEITUS 72
VI. EMPEDOCLES 81
VII. THE ATOMISTS 86
VIII. ANAXAGORAS 94
IX. THE SOPHISTS 106
X. SOCRATES 127
XI. THE SEMI-SOCRATICS. THE CYNICS. THE
CYRENAICS. THE MEGARICS 155
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