A History of Philosophy in Epitome

A History of Philosophy in Epitome is by Dr. Albert Schwegler, translated from the original German. The introductory note says the History of Philosophy by Dr. Albert Schwegler is considered in Germany as the best concise manual upon the subject from the school of Hegel, and that its account of the Greek and of the German systems is of especial value and importance.

The ancients are generally agreed in placing Thales of Miletus at the head of the Ionic natural philosophers, although the text adds that this beginning lies more in the region of tradition than of history. Thales merits his place as the beginner of philosophy, the text says, because he made the first attempt to establish his physical principle without resorting to a mythical representation. A remark on children says the child knows that sweet is not bitter long before he understands the logical proposition of contradiction. Another remark says the mind, like nature, must pass through a series of stages or emancipative acts.