The Journal of Speculative Philosophy. Vol. I. 1867 No. 1 to Vol. VI. 1872 No. 4 (In 5 Vols.)
St. Louis: George Knapp & Co., Printers and Binders, 1867. Hardcover. Quarto. (4) 256, vii (i) 248, viii, 376, (4) 380, vii, 376, (4) 384pp. Bound in pebbled green cloth with blind-stamped ruling and decor on covers, gilt lettering on spine. Rose endpapers.
"William Torrey Harris and Henry Brokmeyer met at the St. Louis Mercantile Library in 1858. Together, they set in motion the St. Louis Philosophical Movement, which gave rise to the St. Lois Philosophical Society and its Journal of Speculative Philosophy, the first English-language philosophical journal in the world. The movement especially focused on German idealism and New England transcendentalism, with an emphasis on converting thought into action." (Webster University Press, The St. Louis Philosophical Movement, edited by Britt-Marie Schiller). The first issue of the Journal of Speculative Philosophy was published in 1867 and it ceased publication in 1893.
The scope of the Journal included original essays, translations of German and ancient Greek philosophers as well as commentaries on literature and music. The Journal's program was evenly divided into contributions on philosophy, art and theology. Greats like Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey published essays in the Journal that aimed to foster universal philosophical thought in America rather than American philosophy.
"For the reason that a journal devoted exclusively to the interest of Speculative Philosophy is a rare phenomenon in the English language, some words may reasonably be expected from the Editors upon the scope and design of the present undertaking. There is no need, it is presumed, to speak of the immense religious movements now going on in this country and in England. The tendency to break with the traditional, and to accept only what bears for the soul its own justification, id widely active, and can end only in the demand that Reason shall find and establish a philosophical basis for all those great ideas which are taught as religious dogmas. Thus it is that side by side with the naturalism of such men as Renan, a school of mystics is beginning to spring up who prefer to ignore utterly all historical wrappages, and cleave only to the speculative kernel itself. The vortex between the traditional faith and the intellectual conviction cannot be closed by renouncing the latter, but only by deepening it to speculative insight." (To The Reader: Vol. I., 1867, No. 1.)
Binding with some wear along edges, light scuffing, small chips, a one inch closed tear at head of spine of volume two, light bumps at corners and minor fraying at spines; with library stickers attached to spines, numeric stamps on copyright pages. Illustrated Ex-Libris of Joseph M. Gleason on each inside front cover. Some foxing of free endpapers and first pages of most issues. Binding in overall good, interiors in good to very good condition. g to vg. Item #45434
Price: $1,250.00