By RUDOLF EUCKEN
Senior Professor of Philosophy in the University of Jena
The Truth of Religion
The Life of the Spirit
Religion and Life
Ethics and Modern Thought
Ethics and Modern
Thought
A Theory of Their Relations
The Deem Lectures
Delivered in 1913 at New York University
By Rudolf Eucken
Professor of Philosophy, University of Jena
Translated from the German Manuscript by
Margaret von Seydewitz
G. P. Putnam's Sons
New York and London
The Knickerbocker Press
1913
Copyright, 1913
by
RUDOLF EUCKEN
The Knickerbocker Press, New York
PREFACE
These lectures, delivered at New York University from February 20th tillMarch 1, 1913, appeal less to students and philosophers than to thecultured public at large. I take this opportunity of expressing mysincere gratitude to the New York University, and especially toChancellor Elmer E. Brown, for all the kindness and interest shown to meduring my stay in New York.
Rudolf Eucken.
Jena, June, 1913.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| I. | The Ethical Problem in the Present Time | 1 |
| II. | The Ethical Principle | 23 |
| III. | A Defence of the Ethical Principle | 43 |
| IV. | Evolution of the Ethical Principle | 63 |
| V. | Morality and Religion | 87 |
| VI. | The Present Status of Morality | 107 |
I The Ethical Problem in the Present Time
I
THE ETHICAL PROBLEM IN THE PRESENT TIME
In former times, nothing seemed more plausible and more certain thanmorality. It was a tower of strength, where men sought refuge in themidst of all the doubts and conflicts of life. This was especially thecase during the Age of Enlightenment. Men were beginning to believe lessabsolutely in the religion handed down to them, but they clung all themore to morality. Metaphysical speculation and theoretical endeavours toreveal the innermost essence of things encountered growing opposition,yet morality was welcomed as something superior to all complications,and valuable to all. It was held to be the pivot of Archimedes, whichgives stability to the whole of life.
In our days morality has ceased to be a[Pg 4]