Ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελΦοί, ὀΦειλέται ἐσμέν, οὐ τῇ σαρκὶ τοῦ κατὰσάρκα ζῇν, εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε μέλλετε ἀποθήσκειν, εἰ δὲπνεύματι τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώματοσ θανατοῦτε ζήσεσθε. ὅσοιγὰρ πνεύματι θεοῦ ἄγονται, οὗτοι υἱοὶ θεοῦ εἰσίν.
—St. Paul (Romans, viii. 12-14).
The personality and works of Professor Rudolf Eucken are at the presentday exercising such a deep influence the world over that a volume by oneof his old pupils, which attempts to interpret his teaching, shouldprove of assistance. It is hoped that the essentials of Eucken'steaching are presented in this book, in a form which is as simple as thesubject-matter allows, and which will not necessitate the readerunlearning anything when he comes to the author's most important works.The whole of the work is expository; and an attempt has been made in thefootnotes to point out aspects similar to those of Eucken's in Englishand German Philosophy.
It is encouraging to find at the present day so much interest inreligious idealism, and it is proved by Eucken beyond the possibility ofdoubt that without some form of such idealism no individual or nationcan realise its deepest potencies. But with the presence of suchidealism as a conviction in the mind and life, history teaches us thatthe seemingly impossible [p.8] is partially realised, and that a newdepth of life is reached. All this does not mean that the individual isto slacken his interests or to lose his affection for the materialaspects of life; but it does mean that the things which appertain tolife have different values, and that it is of the utmost importance tojudge them all from the highest conceivable standpoint—the standpointof spiritual life. This is Eucken's distinctive message to-day. Themessage shows that an actual evolution of spirit is taking place in thelife of the individual and of human society; and that this evolution canbe guided by means of the concentration of the whole being upon thereality of the norms and standards which present themselves in the livesof individuals and of nations. No one particular science or philosophyis able to grant us this central standpoint for viewing the field ofknowledge and the meaning of life. The answer to the complexity of theproblem of existence is to be found in something which gathers up undera larger and more significant meaning the results of knowledge and life.This volume will attempt to elucidate this all-important point ofview—a point of view which is so needful in our days of specialisationand of material interests. It may be, and Eucken and his followersbelieve it is, that the destiny of the nations of the world depends inthe last resort upon a conception and conviction of [p.9] the reality ofa life deeper than that of sense or intellect, although both these maybecome tributaries (and not hindrances) to such a spiritual life.
I have to thank Professor Eucken himself for allowing me access tomaterial hitherto unpublished, and for encouraging me in the work. I ambold enough to be confident that could I say half of what our reveredteacher has meant for me and for hundreds of others of his old pupils,this volume would be the means of helping many who are drifting fromtheir old moorings to find an anchorage in a spiritual world.
W. TUDOR JONES.
Highbury, London, N.,
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