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RUDOLF EUCKEN A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE BY ABEL J. JONES, M.A., BSc. Px.D. ornate MENBRA OF THE UNIVERSITY OP SERA, SCHOLAR OF CULAR. ILLROR, CAMBRODOR, AND ASSIATANT LACTORER ‘AP THE UASVERSITY OMLEGR, CARDIFF LONDON: T. G & EC JACK @7 LONG ACRE, W.C., AND EDINBURGH NEW YORK: DODGE PUBLISHING CO, Eitpepare 1 tune Prittic Library Aceon. No... wee V- 307 PREFACE ‘Twa name of Euoken bas become a familiar one in philosophical and religious circles. Until recent years the reading of his books was confined to those possessing a knowledge of German, but of late soveral have bean translated into the English language, and now tho students of philosophy and religion are agog with accounts of a new philosopher who is at one a great ethical tescher and an optimistic prophet. ‘There is no doubt that Eucken has a grost message, and those who cannot find time to make a thorough study of hia works should not fail to know something of the man and hia teachings. ‘The aim of this volume is to give a brief and clear aocount of his philosophical idesa, and to inspire the reader to study for himself Eucken’s great works. Professor Rudolf Eucken was born in 1846, at Aurich in Hvisia, Ho attonded school in his native town, and thew proceeded to study ab the Universities of Gottingen and Berlin, In 1874 he was invited to the Profesor- ship of Philosophy at the University of Jena, and here ho hea laboured for thirty-cight years; during this period he has heen listened to and admired by many of the mote advanced students of philucophy of all countries and continents, His catliost weltings were bistorioal in chazacter, and consisted mainly of leamed essays upon the classical end German philosophers. Following upon these appeared valuable studies in the wi PREFACE history of philosophy, which brought out, too, to some extent, Bucken’s own philosophical ideas. . His latest worke have beon more definitely construc tive, In Life's Basis and Life's Ideal, and The Truth of Religion, he gives respectively a full account of his philosophical system, and of his ideas concerning, religion, Several smaller works contsin his ideas in briefer and more popular form. ‘As @ locturer ho is charming and inspiring, He is not always easy to understand 5 his sentences are often long, florid, and complex, Sometimes, indeed, be is quite beyond the comprehension of hiy students~but when they do not understand, thoy adiire, and feel they are in the presence of greatness. His writings contain many of the faulty of his lectures, They aro often Igboured and obscute, difluse and verbose, But these faults are minor in character, compared with the greatness of his work. There is no doubt that his is one of the noblest attempts ever mado to solve the great question of life. Novor was 2 philosophy more imbued with the spirit of battle against the ovil and sordid, and with the desire to find in life the highest and greatest that can be found in it. T have to thank Professor Kuelen for the inspiréffon of his lectures and books, various writers, translators, and friends for auggestions, and especially my wife, whose help in various ways has been invaluable, Passages aro quoted from several of the works men- tioned in tho Bibliography, especially from Eucken’s Tho Truth of Religion,” with the kind permission of Messrs. Williame & Norgate—tho publishors. ABEL J. JONES, Ganpirr. CONTENTS oman, PAE L TBE PROBLEMOFUFB. . . . , |B IL, HAS THE PROBLEMS BEEN SOLVED? =. » Wb I, ANOTHER SEARCH FOR TRUTH. . 38 IV. THE PAST, PRESENT, AND THE RTERNAL =. 43 V. TSE “HIGH” AND THE “Low”... 50 Vi. THY ASCENT TO FREEDOM AND PERSONALITY 55 VE, THE PERSONAL AND THE UNIVERSAL . - 6b VItl RELIGION: HISTORICAL AND ABSOLUTE . 69 IX, CONCLUSION; CEITIOIWM AND APPRECIATION 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY =» 5 ww ee INDEX sew ee ew OD