A Critical Spirit : The Thought of William Dawson LeSueur

This volume contains the major writings of this neglected figure in the intellectual history of Canada: his defence of the intellectual life; his advocacy of a scientific, evolutionary ethos; his indictment of the political morality and popular government of his day; and his application of the critical spirit to the writing of Canadian history. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Table of Contents Preface Introduction Part One: The Critical Intellect 1. The lntellectual Life (1875) 2. Idealism in Life (1878) 3. A Few Words on Criticism (1879) 4. Free Thought and Responsible Thought (1882) Part Two: Science, Ethics, and Modern Thought 5. Science and Materialism (1877) 6. The Scientific Spirit (1879) 7. Morality and Religion (1880) 8. A Vindication of Scientific Et hics (1880) 9. Materialism and Positivism (1882) 10. A Defense of Modern Thought (1884) Part Three: On Morality and Politics 11. Party Politics (1872) 12. Old and New in Canada (1875) 13. Partisan Government (1881) 14. The Anarchy of Modern Politics (1883) 15. Problems of Government in Canada (1895) 16. The Problem of Popular Government (1901) Part Four: The Critic as Historian 17. William Lyon Mackenzie (1906) 18. LeSueur, Leacock and Responsible Government (1906) 19. A Rejected Manuscript (1908) 20. The Task at Hand (1911) 21. The Teaching of History (1912) 22. History Its Nature and Methods (1912) Notes on the Text A Bibilography of the Writings of W.D. LeSueur Notes on the Editor