The development of theology in Germany since Kant : and its
progress
in Great Britain since 1825 / by Otto Pfleiderer ; translated under
the author's supervision by J.
the author's supervision by J.
Pleiderer - Development of Theology in Germany since Kant
The development of theology in Germany since Kant : and its
progress
in Great Britain since 1825 / by Otto Pfleiderer ; translated under
the author's supervision by J. Frederick Smith.
Pfleiderer, Otto, 1839-1908.
London : S. Sonnenschein & Co. ; 1890.
http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044081801573
Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
We have determined this work to be in the public domain in the United States of America. It may not be in the public domain in other countries. Copies are provided as a preservation service. Particularly outside of the United States, persons receiving copies should make appropriate efforts to determine the copyright status of the work in their country and use the work accordingly. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address. The digital images and OCR of this work were produced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermark on each page in the PageTurner). Google requests that the images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributed or used commercially. The images are provided for educational, scholarly, non-commercial purposes.
? ? C H'iC. i.
? ? HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
? ? ? ? THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEOLOGY IN GERMANY SINCE KANT,
AND ITS
PROGRESS IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825.
? ? ? THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEOLOGY
IN GERMANY SINCE KANT, AND ITS
PROGRESS IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825. BY
? PFLEIDERER, D. D. , Professor of Tlteology in the Universiiy of Berlin.
TRANSLATED UNDER THE AUTHOR'S SUPERVISION BY J. FREDERICK SMITH.
OTTO
LONDON :
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. , NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO.
1890.
? ? C 7S-Co. -ao. tf V
? c
Co<Sia^t Ij-JUwau,
? Butlrr & Tannrr,
Thr Selwood Printing Works, Fromr, and London.
? ? ? PREFACE.
Two years ago I was asked by the Editor of the Library of Philosophy to write the volume tracing the Development
of Theology since Kant. According to the more precise statement of its scope, the work was to deal principally with the History of Modern Theology in Germany, but it was desired that it should include an account of the Protestant Theology of this century in other countries, particularly in Great Britain. Although I did not shut my eyes to the difficulties of the task, I resolved to undertake with the hope that might thereby contribute little towards a better mutual understanding between the German and English nations, especially towards the removal of numerous prejudices that still prevail in Great Britain with regard to the tendencies
of the German mind and make difficult for Englishmen to form a just view of our national character and aims.
But no sooner was the work actually taken in hand than the necessity appeared of reduction of its scope within narrower limits several respects. An account of theology outside Germany which should be at all satisfactory seemed to me impossible without study of on the spot in the
respective countries. On this account was compelled to leave entirely out of my survey the Theology of Holland1 and America, and to confine myself to that of Great Britain. With British Theology had for years kept myself so far in touch that a sojourn of some weeks in England and Scotland was sufficient, with the kind
? have made an exception in the case of the critical labours of Dr. Kuenen, of Leyden, which have had decided influence on the progress of German Theology. This scientific annexation of the distinguished Theolo gian of the Netherlands will, hope, be considered excusable.
assistance of
? ? I
a
a I
a
it
I1
it I
in
I
a
it,
? X PREFACE.
friendly theologians there, to supply the gaps in my know ledge and enable me to make a survey of the develop
ment of the Philosophy of Religion and Theology in Britain during the present century ; though notwithstanding all the pains I have bestowed upon the survey, I must fall back upon the kind consideration of my British readers.
But even when the range of the work had been thus re duced, the extent of the matters to be dealt with exceeded the limits of a volume of this series, so that I was obliged to lay down definite lines in the selection of what really belongs to my subject. As this is the development of theological thought, everything that belongs to the department of practical church
life, such as ecclesiastico-political events and party conflicts, or philanthropic movements of church societies, could at once be excluded. It was more difficult to draw the line with reference to non-theological science, particularly philosophy. Philosophy has in various ways had so much influence on the Theology of our century, that it is impossible quite to ignore it in a history of the latter. I have therefore brought it within the limits of my account so far, and only so far, as it has exerted a direct influence on the development of Theo
From the nature of the case, the line drawn cannot be so hard and fast that the concurrence of all readers in the selection made is to be expected. And those readers who may perhaps look for a more detailed treatment of the
Philosophy of Religion in Germany, may be referred to my History of the Philosophy of Religion from Spinoza to the Present Time, of which there is an English translation.
As regards the treatment of the materials, I have through out abstained from giving a complete, statistical enumeration of all the writers and titles of books holding a place in the theological literature of this century. Such a catalogue would have served but little the purpose of this book. I have re garded it as far more appropriate to deal somewhat more fully with the characteristic and important men and move ments, rather than by a mass of unimportant details to render
? logy.
? ? ? PREFACE. XI
the survey of the course of development difficult. Further, I dislike above all things that method of writing history which presents nothing but the writer's subjective judgment of people, without so much as allowing them to say what their own opinions and views are. To take all men as what they show themselves to be, is the only way in which we can
pay due regard to historical justice.
I have found but very few books to help me in my work.
For the period under review Dorner's History of Protestant Theology is much too meagre. The books of Carl Schwarz and Landerer on Recent Theology, unlike as they are as re gards style, the first being as brilliant as the second is dry, are
very much alike in this, that both have much more to say of men than they allow men to say for themselves. In the survey of English Theology, Dr. Tulloch's Movements of Religious
? has supplied me with useful points of observation, at all events for some parts of my sketch.
OTTO PFLEIDERER. Lichterfelde, near Berlin.
EDITOR'S NOTE.
Thought
Gross
Dr. Pfleidcrer's work is not a translation in the ordinary sense. It lias been written for the Library of Philosophy, and appears first in English. This involves the disadvantage that the reader will not have (as usually in translations) the original to which to refer in case of doubt. For this reason special care has been taken to secure a clear and accurate rendering. The Authors MS. has been translated into English by Mr.
J. Frederick Smith, whose work has been reviscd in proof by Dr. Pfleiderer, by the translator, and by myself.
EDITOR,
GENERAL
? ? ? CONTENTS.
Book I.
THE BASIS OF MODERN THEOLOGY IN GERMAN IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
Chapter I. Kant
II. Herder
? III. Schleiermacher ? IV. Fichte .
3 21
44
57 62
68
?
? ?
v. Schelling VI. Hegel
? Book II.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
. . . . . . . IV. Eclectic Theologians
Book III.
BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY.
Chapter I. The Theology of the School of Kant . . . .
?
S5 II. The Theology of the School of Schleiermacher . . 103
III. Speculative Theology
1; 154
209 252 277
Chapter I. New Testament Criticism and Exegesis. ? II. Old Testament Criticism and Exegesis . ? III. History of the Church and of Dogma .
Book IV.
A SURVEY OF THE PROGRESS OF THEOLOGY IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825.
Chapter I. The Schools of Philosophy in their relation to Theology
? II. Parties and Movements in Theology Index
. . . .
402
303 355
? ? ? ? BOOK I.
THE BASIS OF MODERN THEOLOGY IN GERMAN IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
G. T.
? ? ? ?
CHAPTER I. KANT.
In the year 1784 Kant wrote an essay upon the question, What is Aufkldrung ? l In it he reviews the tendencies of
his age, and at the same time indicates in what sense he con siders them justifiable and is willing to further them. This
essay may be regarded as the programme of the task to which German philosophy in Kant and his successors has devoted itself.
" Free Thought," says Kant, " is the advance of man beyond the state of voluntary immaturity. By immaturity is meant, inability to use his own understanding except under the guidance of another. The immaturity is voluntary when the cause of it is not want of intelligence, but of resolution and courage to use it without another's guidance. Sapere aude / Dare to use thy own understanding ! is therefore the motto of Free Thought. If the question be asked, ' Do we live in a free-thinking age ? ' the answer No but we live in an age of free-thought. ' As things are at present, men as a whole are very far from possessing, or even from being able to acquire, the power of making a sure and right use of their own understandings in religious matters without the guidance of others. On the other hand, we have clear indications that the field now lies nevertheless open before them, to which they can freely make their way, and that the
hindrances to general Freedom of Thought, or the abandon ment of the state of voluntary immaturity, are gradually be coming less. In this sense the present age the age of Free Thought, or the century of Frederick the Great. "
? Aufklarung. Any translation of this ter? ninus technicus may mislead. From Kant's authoritative definition of the thing, appears that our English
Free-thinking " substantially represents it. --Tr.
? ? 1'
1
it
is
is, '
;
?
the author's supervision by J. Frederick Smith.
Pfleiderer, Otto, 1839-1908.
London : S. Sonnenschein & Co. ; 1890.
http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044081801573
Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
We have determined this work to be in the public domain in the United States of America. It may not be in the public domain in other countries. Copies are provided as a preservation service. Particularly outside of the United States, persons receiving copies should make appropriate efforts to determine the copyright status of the work in their country and use the work accordingly. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address. The digital images and OCR of this work were produced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermark on each page in the PageTurner). Google requests that the images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributed or used commercially. The images are provided for educational, scholarly, non-commercial purposes.
? ? C H'iC. i.
? ? HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
? ? ? ? THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEOLOGY IN GERMANY SINCE KANT,
AND ITS
PROGRESS IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825.
? ? ? THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEOLOGY
IN GERMANY SINCE KANT, AND ITS
PROGRESS IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825. BY
? PFLEIDERER, D. D. , Professor of Tlteology in the Universiiy of Berlin.
TRANSLATED UNDER THE AUTHOR'S SUPERVISION BY J. FREDERICK SMITH.
OTTO
LONDON :
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. , NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO.
1890.
? ? C 7S-Co. -ao. tf V
? c
Co<Sia^t Ij-JUwau,
? Butlrr & Tannrr,
Thr Selwood Printing Works, Fromr, and London.
? ? ? PREFACE.
Two years ago I was asked by the Editor of the Library of Philosophy to write the volume tracing the Development
of Theology since Kant. According to the more precise statement of its scope, the work was to deal principally with the History of Modern Theology in Germany, but it was desired that it should include an account of the Protestant Theology of this century in other countries, particularly in Great Britain. Although I did not shut my eyes to the difficulties of the task, I resolved to undertake with the hope that might thereby contribute little towards a better mutual understanding between the German and English nations, especially towards the removal of numerous prejudices that still prevail in Great Britain with regard to the tendencies
of the German mind and make difficult for Englishmen to form a just view of our national character and aims.
But no sooner was the work actually taken in hand than the necessity appeared of reduction of its scope within narrower limits several respects. An account of theology outside Germany which should be at all satisfactory seemed to me impossible without study of on the spot in the
respective countries. On this account was compelled to leave entirely out of my survey the Theology of Holland1 and America, and to confine myself to that of Great Britain. With British Theology had for years kept myself so far in touch that a sojourn of some weeks in England and Scotland was sufficient, with the kind
? have made an exception in the case of the critical labours of Dr. Kuenen, of Leyden, which have had decided influence on the progress of German Theology. This scientific annexation of the distinguished Theolo gian of the Netherlands will, hope, be considered excusable.
assistance of
? ? I
a
a I
a
it
I1
it I
in
I
a
it,
? X PREFACE.
friendly theologians there, to supply the gaps in my know ledge and enable me to make a survey of the develop
ment of the Philosophy of Religion and Theology in Britain during the present century ; though notwithstanding all the pains I have bestowed upon the survey, I must fall back upon the kind consideration of my British readers.
But even when the range of the work had been thus re duced, the extent of the matters to be dealt with exceeded the limits of a volume of this series, so that I was obliged to lay down definite lines in the selection of what really belongs to my subject. As this is the development of theological thought, everything that belongs to the department of practical church
life, such as ecclesiastico-political events and party conflicts, or philanthropic movements of church societies, could at once be excluded. It was more difficult to draw the line with reference to non-theological science, particularly philosophy. Philosophy has in various ways had so much influence on the Theology of our century, that it is impossible quite to ignore it in a history of the latter. I have therefore brought it within the limits of my account so far, and only so far, as it has exerted a direct influence on the development of Theo
From the nature of the case, the line drawn cannot be so hard and fast that the concurrence of all readers in the selection made is to be expected. And those readers who may perhaps look for a more detailed treatment of the
Philosophy of Religion in Germany, may be referred to my History of the Philosophy of Religion from Spinoza to the Present Time, of which there is an English translation.
As regards the treatment of the materials, I have through out abstained from giving a complete, statistical enumeration of all the writers and titles of books holding a place in the theological literature of this century. Such a catalogue would have served but little the purpose of this book. I have re garded it as far more appropriate to deal somewhat more fully with the characteristic and important men and move ments, rather than by a mass of unimportant details to render
? logy.
? ? ? PREFACE. XI
the survey of the course of development difficult. Further, I dislike above all things that method of writing history which presents nothing but the writer's subjective judgment of people, without so much as allowing them to say what their own opinions and views are. To take all men as what they show themselves to be, is the only way in which we can
pay due regard to historical justice.
I have found but very few books to help me in my work.
For the period under review Dorner's History of Protestant Theology is much too meagre. The books of Carl Schwarz and Landerer on Recent Theology, unlike as they are as re gards style, the first being as brilliant as the second is dry, are
very much alike in this, that both have much more to say of men than they allow men to say for themselves. In the survey of English Theology, Dr. Tulloch's Movements of Religious
? has supplied me with useful points of observation, at all events for some parts of my sketch.
OTTO PFLEIDERER. Lichterfelde, near Berlin.
EDITOR'S NOTE.
Thought
Gross
Dr. Pfleidcrer's work is not a translation in the ordinary sense. It lias been written for the Library of Philosophy, and appears first in English. This involves the disadvantage that the reader will not have (as usually in translations) the original to which to refer in case of doubt. For this reason special care has been taken to secure a clear and accurate rendering. The Authors MS. has been translated into English by Mr.
J. Frederick Smith, whose work has been reviscd in proof by Dr. Pfleiderer, by the translator, and by myself.
EDITOR,
GENERAL
? ? ? CONTENTS.
Book I.
THE BASIS OF MODERN THEOLOGY IN GERMAN IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
Chapter I. Kant
II. Herder
? III. Schleiermacher ? IV. Fichte .
3 21
44
57 62
68
?
? ?
v. Schelling VI. Hegel
? Book II.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
. . . . . . . IV. Eclectic Theologians
Book III.
BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY.
Chapter I. The Theology of the School of Kant . . . .
?
S5 II. The Theology of the School of Schleiermacher . . 103
III. Speculative Theology
1; 154
209 252 277
Chapter I. New Testament Criticism and Exegesis. ? II. Old Testament Criticism and Exegesis . ? III. History of the Church and of Dogma .
Book IV.
A SURVEY OF THE PROGRESS OF THEOLOGY IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE 1825.
Chapter I. The Schools of Philosophy in their relation to Theology
? II. Parties and Movements in Theology Index
. . . .
402
303 355
? ? ? ? BOOK I.
THE BASIS OF MODERN THEOLOGY IN GERMAN IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY.
G. T.
? ? ? ?
CHAPTER I. KANT.
In the year 1784 Kant wrote an essay upon the question, What is Aufkldrung ? l In it he reviews the tendencies of
his age, and at the same time indicates in what sense he con siders them justifiable and is willing to further them. This
essay may be regarded as the programme of the task to which German philosophy in Kant and his successors has devoted itself.
" Free Thought," says Kant, " is the advance of man beyond the state of voluntary immaturity. By immaturity is meant, inability to use his own understanding except under the guidance of another. The immaturity is voluntary when the cause of it is not want of intelligence, but of resolution and courage to use it without another's guidance. Sapere aude / Dare to use thy own understanding ! is therefore the motto of Free Thought. If the question be asked, ' Do we live in a free-thinking age ? ' the answer No but we live in an age of free-thought. ' As things are at present, men as a whole are very far from possessing, or even from being able to acquire, the power of making a sure and right use of their own understandings in religious matters without the guidance of others. On the other hand, we have clear indications that the field now lies nevertheless open before them, to which they can freely make their way, and that the
hindrances to general Freedom of Thought, or the abandon ment of the state of voluntary immaturity, are gradually be coming less. In this sense the present age the age of Free Thought, or the century of Frederick the Great. "
? Aufklarung. Any translation of this ter? ninus technicus may mislead. From Kant's authoritative definition of the thing, appears that our English
Free-thinking " substantially represents it. --Tr.
? ? 1'
1
it
is
is, '
;
?
