vi PREFACE 



ments of considerable difficulty have to be taken in their 

 turn. 



My principal aim has been to show that these scien- 

 tific developments provide new material for the philoso- 

 pher. I have, however, gone beyond this and indicated 

 how I myself think the material might be used. I realise 

 that the philosophical views here put forward can only 

 claim attention in so far as they are the direct outcome 

 of a study and apprehension of modern scientific work. 

 General ideas of the nature of things which I may have 

 formed apart from this particular stimulus from science 

 are of little moment to anyone but myself. But although 

 the two sources of ideas were fairly distinct in my mind 

 when I began to prepare these lectures they have become 

 inextricably combined in the effort to reach a coherent 

 outlook and to defend it from probable criticism. For 

 that reason I would like to recall that the idealistic tinge 

 in my conception of the physical world arose out of math- 

 ematical researches on the relativity theory. In so far as 

 I had any earlier philosophical views, they were of an 

 entirely different complexion. 



From the beginning I have been doubtful whether it 

 was desirable for a scientist to venture so far into extra- 

 scientific territory. The primary justification for such 

 an expedition is that it may afford a better view of his 

 own scientific domain. In the oral lectures it did not 

 seem a grave indiscretion to speak freely of the various 

 suggestions I had to offer. But whether they should be 

 recorded permanently and given a more finished appear- 

 ance has been difficult to decide. I have much to fear 

 from the expert philosophical critic, but I am filled with 

 even more apprehension at the thought of readers who 

 may look to see whether the book is u on the side of the 

 angels" and judge its trustworthiness accordingly. Dur- 



