Rudolf Eucken : his philosophy and influence - by Meyrick Booth

Rudolf Eucken: his philosophy and influence

Rudolf Eucken

This little book is an attempt to provide a popular account of a philosophy that is playing a leading part in shaping the thought and life of the modern world. It has been my endeavour to avoid technical philosophical language and to treat the subject throughout in such a fashion as to appeal to those who have made no special study of philosophy or theology. Professor Eucken has no dearer wish than that philosophy should cease to be a mere academic speciality and become a power in the life of the people; and he seeks, in particular, to interest all those men and women who are growing tired of mere negation and agnosticism.

I feel, therefore, that my imperfect attempt to interpret his comprehensive work of construction perhaps needs no apology. For Eucken has done much more perhaps than any other living man to render possible to modern people a belief in the reality and supremacy of the spiritual world. And what he finally seeks is nothing less than the reconstruction of our entire life and civilisation upon a positive spiritual basis.

As one who attended Professor Eucken's lectures for more than two years, it gives me peculiar pleasure to assist in the task of spreading his convictions throughout the English- speaking world, in which his teaching has already met with such a favourable reception. The early portion of this study (Chapters I. to V.) is concerned with an explanation of the main principles of Eucken's thought.

The latter section (Chapters VI. to XII.) seeks to bring his philosophy into contact with some of the central problems of modern life and thought. In the second part, the treatment is necessary, to some extent, independent; but I have kept close to the lines laid down in Eucken's works. The reader will see that four of the longest chapters have been devoted to the social side of Eucken's philosophy (including one on Education). In assigning so much space to this topic the present work has, I hope, do something to justify its existence; for this most important aspect of his philosophy has been singularly neglected in this country. Eucken's theological views are already well known to English readers, and this must be my excuse for having left only one chapter for their discussion.

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