THE ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF HEGEL'S LOGIC.
The Origin and Significance of Hcgel's Logic. By J. B. Baillie. (Macmillan and Co. 8s.)—Whatever be the cause of the fascina- tion which Hegel exercises over the academic world—it may be what his first great expositor in this country, Dr. Hutchison Stirling, called his "Secret "—there is no question as to its reality and permanence. Fresh evidence to this effect is supplied by the present volume, which, although it deals primarily with Hegel's logic, is rightly described as an introduction to the whole system. The author, however, holds that unless the student of Hegel can discover the clue to the tale of the categories the system will remain for the most part "a sealed secret." It is, no doubt, only experts in Hegelianism, such as those whom Mr. Baillie mentions in his preface, who are entitled to give an opinion upon the value of his work. But even the men of average academic culture can testify to Mr. Baillie's enthusiasm, fair-mindedness, loyal adherence to the historical method, and anxiety to balance evidence. Mr. Baillie writes lucidly and interestingly, and occasionally becomes genuinely epigrammatic. Thus, in distinguishing between Spinoza and Hegel, he says :— "While for Spinoza omnis determinatio est negatio, Hegel sought to demonstrate, on the contrary, that omnis negatio est determinatio. Their method, therefore, may be said to characterise their philosophy as.accurately as their principle. The one is on all points the counterstroke of the other."
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