Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

IONIAN PHILOSOPHY, commencing from Egyptian Ideas, identifies in
Water, or Air, or Fire, the first Principle.-Emerging from the Stage of
Sorcery, it founds Psychology, Biology, Cosmogony, Astronomy, and
ends in doubting whether there is any Criterion of Truth.
ITALIAN PHILOSOPHY depends on Numbers and Harmonies.-It repro-
duces the Egyptian and Hindu Doctrine of Transmigration.
ELEATIC PHILOSOPHY presents a great Advance, indicating a rapid Ap-
proach to Oriental Ideas.-It assumes a Pantheistic Aspect.
RISE OF PHILOSOPHY IN EUROPEAN GREECE.- Relations and Influence
of the Mediterranean Commercial and Colonial System.-Athens attains
to Commercial Supremacy.—Her vast Progress in Intelligence and Art.
--Her Demoralization.-She becomes the Intellectual Centre of the Me-
diterranean.

Commencement of the Athenian higher Analysis.—It is conducted by the

Contents.

ix

[ocr errors]

Rise of Christianity.—Distinguished from Ecclesiastical Organization.—It
is demanded by the deplorable Condition of the Empire.-Its brief Con-
flict with Paganism.-Character of its first Organization.-Variations of
Thought and Rise of Sects: their essential Difference in the East and
West.-The three Primitive Forms of Christianity: the Judaic Form,
ite End-the Gnostic Form, its End-the African Form, continues.
Spread of Christianity from Syria.—Its Antagonism to Imperialism; their
Conflicts. Position of Affairs under Diocletian.-The Policy of Con-
stantine.—He avails himself of the Christian Party, and through it at-
tains Supreme Power.-His Personal Relations to it.

The Trinitarian Controversy.-Story of Arius.-The Council of Nicæa.

The Progress of the Bishop of Rome to Supremacy.—The Roman Church;

its primitive Subordinate Position.-Causes of its increasing Wealth,

Influence, and Corruptions.-Stages of its Advancement through the

Pelagian, Nestorian, and Eutychian Disputes.-Rivalry of the Bishops

of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Rome.

Necessity of a Pontiff in the West and ecclesiastical Councils in the East.-

Nature of those Councils and of Pontifical Power.

The Period closes at the Capture and Sack of Rome by Alaric.-Defence

of that Event by St. Augustine.—Criticism on his Writings.

Character of the Progress of Thought through this Period.-Destiny of

the three great Bishops

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The Intellectual Developement of the Arabians is guided by the Nestorians
and the Jews, and is in the Medical Direction.-The Basis of this Alli-
ance is Theological.

Antagonism of the Byzantine System to scientific Medicine.-Suppression

of the Asclepions.-Their Replacement by Miracle-cure.—The resulting

Superstition and Ignorance.

« AnteriorContinuar »