Fichte (Adamson)/Prefatory Note

by Robert Adamson

PREFATORY NOTE.

The account of Fichte’s system in the latter part of this volume has no pretensions to be regarded as more than an introduction to his philosophy. When it is remembered that Fichte’s works appear in eleven substantial volumes, and that many of them are elaborate and detailed expositions of special branches of philosophy in general, it will be evident that a summary or compressed statement would have but small value, and that a short sketch must of necessity be introductory in character.

I have to thank Dr William Smith for the kind permission to use his translations of certain of Fichte’s works. The passage quoted from the ‘Reden,’ is taken, with one or two verbal alterations, from his ‘Memoir of Fichte.’

The delay in the appearance of this volume of the series of ‘Philosophical Classics’ is due to causes for which I am alone responsible.

R. ADAMSON.

The Owens College, June 1881.