The History of Materialism: and a Critique of Its Current Significance

Friedrich Lange's History of Materialism traces the development and influence of the materialist world view from ancient times through the mid-19th century. Known for its influence on the young Nietzsche, Lange's classic work portrays materialism as a major philosophical perspective, which must be taken just as seriously as the spiritual or idealist perspective. In addition to well-known names such as Epicurus and Hobbes, Lange introduces the reader to many important materialist philosophers whose names have largely been forgotten, including Gassendi, De la Mettrie and Holbach. Lange emphasizes the positive role played by materialism in the advancement of knowledge through its expulsion of the supernatural from the exact sciences. But he also shows that the notion of matter as the fundamental metaphysical foundation of all existence cannot be sustained in the light of modern scientific discoveries. Building on the philosophical insights of Immanuel Kant, Lange points the way to a more nuanced view of physical reality, free of supernatural influences, but more complex than the "atoms and the void" postulated by the classic materialists. This new translation by Mike Davis makes Lange's classic work available to English and American readers in a style well suited to the 21st century reader, while rendering Lange's complex ideas into clear, concise and modern English prose.