ABSTRACT
Philosophy seeks to co-ordinate the general results of thought and of the individual sciences into a unified view of the world and of life, and to examine the presuppositions of all sciences, in so far as these he within man himself. Such investigations have been carried out since time immemorial and are always being undertaken afresh. 'Philosophy is a high Alpine track', wrote Schopenhauer on the 8th September 1811 during his journey across the Harz mountains, 'its only approach is a steep path over sharp stones and piercing thorns: It is lonely, and the higher one goes the more barren it becomes; whoever follows it must know no dread, but leave everything behind him and confidently blaze his own trail through the cold snow. In return he will soon see the world beneath him, its deserts and morasses will vanish, its unevennesses will be smoothed out, its discordant sounds will not reach him, its curved outline will be revealed.
