Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 8.djvu/302

288 PHILOSOPHICAL PERIODICALS. Notwithstanding the numerous passages suggestive of modern thought, Prof. Volkelt avoids all such comparisons, giving only the data for the thesis that the germs of our modern doctrines are to be found in the teachings of Duns Scotus, Occam, and Buridan. The essay represents, an immense amount of reading.] Johannes Volkelt. ' Beitrage zur Analyse des Bewusstseins.' [The distinguishing (and misrepresented) mark of sensation is trans-subjectivity, the seeming independence of consciousness, the "beyondness" always present in sense-impressions. Spencer violates his own empiricism in ascribing to sensation originally a meaning in inner consciousness only, and treating its apparent inde- pendence as a gradual growth. In experience sensation is never merely internal, nor of an alleged growth of the illusion can we have experience. Further, sensation prior to or without this trans-subjectivity would no more be sensation than a triangle would continue a triangle if a side were removed. On the other hand, there must be no confusion with Natural Eealism ; where Hamilton (or German equivalents) say the non-ego is given, the purely psychological position here maintained is that the non- ego seems to be given in sensation. This illusion may be termed the irrational element in consciousness in the sense that human finiteness. cannot conciliate the illusion with reason. Thus, in opposition to the teachers of Parallelism, consciousness appears as a manifold of simple, qualitatively different, underivative functions. The conclusion treats of the connexion of the trans-subjective element with the ideas of space and of the external world.] Gregor von G-lasenapp. ' Duplicitat in dem Ursprung der Moral.' [On the one hand, the rational element of morality lies in the idea of justice and retribution ; on the other hand, above and beyond reason, is the astounding fact that moral actions are performed regardless of recompense, regardless of self-interest. The article traces the influence of this second constituent in the religions of the Greeks and eastern nations and in Christianity.] VlEKTELJAHRSSCHRIFT FUR WlSSENSCHAFTLICHE PHILOSOPHIE. Jahrg. xxiii., Heft 1. J. v. Kries. ' Zur Psychologic des Urteils.' [The author starts with his distinction between real and relational judgments, which corresponds closely with Hume's distinction between relations of ideas and matters of fact. Each of these classes of judgment involves a dis- tinctive consciousness of validity. The object of the present article is to distinguish further varieties of the validity-consciousness, as they occur in the manifold processes of actual thinking, and to connect these with the main logical types of judgment. The article is interesting and im- portant, but its value lies in detail which cannot be reproduced in summary.] E. Posch. 'Ausgangspunkte einer Theorie der Zeitvor- stellung, I. [Discusses the nature of past time. When we say that some- thing is past, the meaning is always that some quality in a group of quali- ties has ceased to belong to that group. Fastness is the non-existence of what is past.] P. Earth. ' Die Frage des sittlichen Fortschritts der Menschheit.' [Disputes the thesis of Buckle that ethical principles and ethical sentiments are unalterable. There is a progess in the direction of recognising the autonomy of the individual. We must distinguish between the development in the nature of ethical principles and senti- ments, and the intensity of the controlling influence which they exercise under given social conditions. This controlling influence, which may be identified with conscience, shows a more or less regular rise and fall. The present period is one of decline, but there is good hope for the future, based largely on the help to be expected from science and particular from sociology.] Besprechungen, etc.