Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The chapter says that there has occurred during the last two generations what has been described as 'a revolution in philosophy', one consequence of which has been the almost total eclipse of Idealism. It is a critical study of certain aspects of the work of four Idealist philosophers. It deals mainly with their social philosophy, but some consideration is also given to their metaphysics. It is the thesis of this book that there is a valid and significant form of Idealism to be found in the work of philosophers, but that they did not succeed in developing it fully and consistently. The aim of this book is to contribute to a re-assessment of Idealism by developing this thesis. The chapter emphasises that there is no fundamental incompatibility between philosophical analysis in the contemporary sense and the form of Idealism which is recommended.