Frederick Burwick's modest but comprehensive and insightful intro- duction is preface enough to these sensible essays in the history and philosophical criticism of ideas. If we want to understand how some in- quiring and intelligent thinkers sought to go beyond mechanism and vitalism, we will find Burwick's labors of assembling others and reflect- ing on his own part to be as stimulating as anywhere to be found. And yet his initial cautious remark is right: 'approaches', not 'attainments'. The problems associated with clarifying 'matter' and 'form' are still beyond any consensus as to their...

Frederick Burwick's modest but comprehensive and insightful intro- duction is preface enough to these sensible essays in the history and philosophical criticism of ideas. If we want to understand how some in- quiring and intelligent thinkers sought to go beyond mechanism and vitalism, we will find Burwick's labors of assembling others and reflect- ing on his own part to be as stimulating as anywhere to be found. And yet his initial cautious remark is right: 'approaches', not 'attainments'. The problems associated with clarifying 'matter' and 'form' are still beyond any consensus as to their...