THE EDITOR'S PREFACE.
Kant's "Dreams of a Spirit-Seer,[1] illustrated by those of Metaphysics," was published in the year 1766. His mental attitude at the time has been well described by his latest biographer and critic, M. Kronenberg: Kant; Sein Leben, and Seine Lehre: München: Beck: 1897. 8vo. VII., 312. The writer says in regard to the alleged scepticism of Kant about the year 1764: "All around the metaphysicians were still directing their telescopes to the farthest ends of the universe: Kant, on the contrary, having long returned from this high-strung flight, was making himself comfortably at home on earth." (p. 157.) Of the "Dreams of a Spirit-Seer" he says:—
"Between the visions of Swedenborg and those of the metaphysicians of his time, Kant drew a surprising parallel. Swedenborg believed himself to be as familiarly acquainted with the beyond as with his own house. Was
- ↑ The common title, "Dreams of a Ghost-Seer," is not retained because it is a manifestly false rendering of the term "Geisterseher." This means simply a seer of "spirits," not of "ghosts." Had the latter been Kant's intention he would have used the word "Gespenst," ghost, and not "Geist," spirit.—F.S.
