RISE AND DECLINE OF PHYSICAL SPECULATION.
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 reproduces the Egyptian and Hindu Doctrine of Transmigration._
ELEATIC PHILOSOPHY _presents a great Advance, indicating a rapid Approach 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 Mediterranean._
_Commencement of the Athenian higher Analysis.--It is conducted by_ THE SOPHISTS, _who reject Philosophy, Religion, and even Morality, and end in Atheism._
_Political Dangers of the higher Analysis.--Illustration from the Middle Ages._ 94
SOCRATES _rejects Physical and Mathematical Speculations, and asserts the Importance of Virtue and Morality, thereby inaugurating an Age of Faith.--His Life and Death.--The schools originating from his Movement teach the Pursuit of Pleasure and Gratification of Self._
PLATO _founds the Academy.--His three primal Principles.--The Existence of a personal God.--Nature of the World and the Soul.--The ideal Theory, Generals or Types.--Reminiscence.--Transmigration.--Plato's political Institutions.--His Republic.--His Proofs of the Immortality of the Soul.--Criticism on his Doctrines._
RISE OF THE SCEPTICS, _who conduct the higher Analysis of Ethical Philosophy.--Pyrrho demonstrates the Uncertainty of Knowledge.--Inevitable Passage into tranquil Indifference, Quietude, and Irreligion, as recommended by Epicurus.--Decomposition of the Socratic and Platonic Systems in the later Academies.--Their Errors and Duplicities.--End of the Greek Age of Faith._ 143
THE MACEDONIAN CAMPAIGN.--_Disastrous in its political Effects to Greece, but ushering in the Age of Reason._
ARISTOTLE _founds the Inductive Philosophy.--His Method the Inverse of that of Plato.--Its great power.--In his own hands it fails for want of Knowledge, but is carried out by the Alexandrians._