It tells of the life and opinions of Reger, a 'musical philosopher', through the voice of his acquaintance Atzbacher, a 'private academic'.The book is set in Vienna on one day around the year of its publication, 1985. Reger is an 82-year-old music critic who writes pieces for The Times. For over thirty years he has sat on the same bench in front of Tintoretto's White-bearded Man in the Bordone Room of the Kunsthistorisches Museum for four or five hours of the morning of every second day. He finds this environment the one in which he can do his best thinking. He is aided in this habit by the gallery attendant Irrsigler, who prevents other visitors from using the bench when Reger requires it.

    This enchanting tale puts natural enemies together for a night of warmth and safety. Author Tilde Michels hints of a better world with her gentle, humorous verse. Marvelously illustrated in full color.

    It includes some of Hegel’s earliest critical writings—which reveal much about his thinking before the first mature exposition of his position in 1807—as well as Schelling’s justification of the new philosophy of nature against skeptical and religious attack. This edition contains George di Giovanni’s extensive corrections, new preface, and thoroughly updated bibliography.CONTENTS: Preface.Part I: The Critical Philosophy and Its First Reception. Introduction: The Facts of Consciousness (Di Giovanni). K. L. REINHOLD, The Foundation of Philosophical Knowledge. G. E. SCHULZE, from Aenesidemus. J. G. FICHTE, Review of Aenesidemus. S. MAIMON, from Letters of Philaletes to Aenesidemus. J. S. BECK, from The Standpoint from which Critical Philosophy is to be Judged.Part II: The Critical Philosophy and the Critical Journal of Schelling and Hegel. Introduction: Skepticism, Dogmatism and Speculation in the Critical Journal. (Harris). HEGEL & SCHELLING, The Critical Journal, Introduction: On the Essence of Philosophical Criticism Generally, and its Relationship to the Present State of Philosophy. G. W. F. HEGEL, How the Ordinary Human Understanding Takes Philosophy (as Displayed in the Works of Mr. Krug). G. W. F. HEGEL, Relationship of Skepticism to Philosophy, Exposition of its Different Modifications and Comparison to the Latest Form with the Ancient One. F. W. J. SCHELLING, On the Relationship of the Philosophy of Nature to Philosophy in General. Bibliography. Index.George di Giovanni is Professor of Philosophy, McGill University.H. S. Harris is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Glendon College, York University.