Preface 



inspired most of the great metaphysical systems, and 

 finds its clearest and most concrete presentment in the 

 works of Schopenhauer. Its premises are the same; 

 but the developments and the conclusions are totally 

 different; my endeavour has been to bridge the chasm 

 that Schopenhauer leaves between the Unconscious 

 and the Conscious. Thence follows an entirely different 

 interpretation of the evolution of the individual and 

 of the universe. This interpretation, instead of leading 

 to pessimism, leads, I will not say to optimism (the 

 term being loose and questionable), but to the abiding 

 ideal of Humanity, an ideal which is built on its highest, 

 calmest, and most lasting hopes of justice, of joy, and 

 of individual persistence. 



But the real originality of the idealist philosophy 

 here outlined, the only originality that is claimed, is 

 that /'/ is scientific. Unrestricted by dogmatic or mystical 

 forms, and resting on no a -priori or intuitional formulae, 

 it is based on positive demonstration. It is on the 

 ground of scientific philosophy, and on this ground alone, 

 that this work should be studied or discussed. 



To build up my demonstration I have endeavoured 

 to take account of all known facts whether in the natural 

 sciences, in general biology, or in admitted data relating 

 to the physiological and psychological constitution of 

 the individual man. In the choice of the main explana- 

 tory hypotheses I have sought those which present the 

 double character of being logical deductions from facts, 

 and adaptable to all the facts of a group. My constant 

 aim has been to reach wider and more comprehensive 

 generalisations, until there should issue, if possible, a 

 hypothesis sufficiently wide and general to present a 

 single interpretation of the evolution of the individual 

 and of the universe. 



This general method is scarcely open to criticism. 

 But I have been led, little by little, by the subject-matter, 

 to adopt at first tentatively, and then systematically, a 



