Force and Matter
Empirico-Philosophical Studies, Intelligibly Rendered

An English translation from 1864 of Kraft und Stoff, Ludwig Büchner's influential work advocating materialism, first published in 1855.

Ludwig Büchner (Author), J. Frederick Collingwood (Edited and translated by)

9781108040303, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 December 2011

330 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.9 cm, 0.42 kg

At a time when German philosophy was dominated by idealism, German philosopher and physician Ludwig Büchner (1824–99) wrote Kraft und Stoff, an influential work advocating materialism, in 1855. It went through many editions and was widely read across the world. The controversy surrounding the book led to Büchner leaving his post at the University of Tübingen, but he went on to establish the German Freethinkers' League, the first German organisation for atheists. This book, first published in 1864, is a translation of the eighth edition, and is edited by J. Frederick Collingwood, who wanted to bring Büchner's work to an English audience. It contains translations of the prefaces from the first, third and fourth editions of Kraft und Stoff, and an introductory letter from Büchner which expresses his belief that Darwin's theory of evolution has given support to his materialist theory.

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Letter to the editor
Preface to the first edition
Preface to the third edition
Preface to the fourth edition
1. Force and matter
2. Immortality of matter
3. Immortality of force
4. Infinity of matter
5. Dignity of matter
6. Immutability of the laws of nature
7. Universality of the laws of nature
8. The heavens
9. Periods of the creation of the earth
10. Primeval generation
11. Design in nature
12. Brain and soul
13. Thought
14. The seat of the soul
15. Innate ideas
16. The idea of a god
17. Personal continuance
18. Vital force
19. The soul of brutes
20. Free will
21. Concluding observations.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]