Problems of Man in the History of Philosophy

Abstract

The history of philosophy was raised by Hegel to an independent science from a mere collection of opinions, his history of philosophy being written as the philosophy itself. The 19th century showed a tendency of setting aside Hegelian panlogism in favour of historical accuracy and critical attitude and his development view-point was succeeded, though of course on the materialistic interpretation, by Marxism, whose standard book on the history of philosophy is “A World Hsitory of Philosophy” 5 vols. edited by the Philosophical Institute of Soviet Science Academy. This book indeed merits attention in criticizing Europeanism or Westernalization of history, bringing to light manyunderrnineel philosophies of so-called under-developed A. A. countries; but it is not without defects, the most striking of which, I think, is its unreadableness and dehumanization, lacking the eiving individual personalities in the description. Philosopher's life-history including his peculiarities deserves attention, for this is a determining factor in the formation of his theory. In this respect Sartre's criticism of to-day's Marxism would be pointed. Intending however, notto construct an existentialized materialism, but to humanize Marxist interpretation of history of philosophy, I am putting forward a few problems in this paper.