Introduction

The chapters in this volume try to reveal the depth and coherence of Lotze’s philosophy. Lotze emerges as a systematic philosopher whose work addresses enduring philosophical problems: the relation between mind and matter and between science and metaphysics, the nature of meaning, the structure of subjectivity, the foundations of logic, and the ethical demands of human life. His dialectical approach—balancing empirical rigor with metaphysical insight and logic with teleology—positions him as a key figure in the transition from classical German philosophy to contemporary thought. Lotze’s influence on a wide array of philosophical movements—from British idealism and American pragmatism to Neo-Kantianism, phenomenology, and early analytic philosophy—testifies the enduring relevance of his ideas. By revisiting Lotze’s work through both historical and systematic lenses, this volume aims not only to restore his rightful place in the philosophical canon but also to stimulate new conversations about the intersection of science, metaphysics, and human values.