Force and Matter
Force and Matter
J. Frederick Collingwood
At a time when German philosophy was dominated by idealism, German philosopher and physician Ludwig Büchner (1824–99) wrote Kraft und Stoff, an influential work advocating materialism, in 1855. It went through many editions and was widely read across the world. The controversy surrounding the book led to Büchner leaving his post at the University of Tübingen, but he went on to establish the German Freethinkers' League, the first German organisation for atheists. This book, first published in 1864, is a translation of the eighth edition, and is edited by J. Frederick Collingwood, who wanted to bring Büchner's work to an English audience. It contains translations of the prefaces from the first, third and fourth editions of Kraft und Stoff, and an introductory letter from Büchner which expresses his belief that Darwin's theory of evolution has given support to his materialist theory.
Product details
No date availablePaperback
9781108040303
330 pages
216 × 140 × 19 mm
0.42kg
Table of Contents
- Advertisement by the editor
- Letter to the editor
- Preface to the first edition
- Preface to the third edition
- Preface to the fourth edition
- 1. Force and matter
- 2. Immortality of matter
- 3. Immortality of force
- 4. Infinity of matter
- 5. Dignity of matter
- 6. Immutability of the laws of nature
- 7. Universality of the laws of nature
- 8. The heavens
- 9. Periods of the creation of the earth
- 10. Primeval generation
- 11. Design in nature
- 12. Brain and soul
- 13. Thought
- 14. The seat of the soul
- 15. Innate ideas
- 16. The idea of a god
- 17. Personal continuance
- 18. Vital force
- 19. The soul of brutes
- 20. Free will
- 21. Concluding observations.
