A "Handbook of the History of Philosophy" which sketches the course philosophy has followed in its development, and the leading philosophical systems through which that progress had been effected, cannot fail to have its use for the student who seeks a safe way through this vast and varied field of study. In the present Handbook I have endeavoured to provide for the student a help of this sort. There are, indeed, many Handbooks already in existence. But these, for the most part, do not view the subject from the Catholic standpoint, and are not sufficiently safe guides for Catholic students. In this respect, the present work, will, it is hoped, meet a want not hitherto satisfied.

This book deals with teleology, truth, predication, knowledge and belief, universals, body and mind, soul, and reason. Its approach is integrative, scholastic and analytic. Teleology is required for causality, truth and reason. Where the measure is an end, things measure mind in theoretical truth and mind measures things in practical truth. Truth in Mind draws our reasoning to it as an end. Predication shows how the problem of universals arises and how it is solved. It also impacts the problem of body and mind in that only the hylomorphic assay of persons admits the predicable relations. Reason exemplifies dialectical thought in the syllogism.