34 PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT. 



by preference on the uniting ideas which underlie the 



Thought of the nineteenth century, I feel that it would 



j. be a mistake were I to undervalue the many differences 



Differences . 



s weu as an d contrasts which have existed within the great realm 



uniting 



ideas not o f thought during that whole period. 



I think it will be more helpful to my readers if, 

 when entering on a new portion of my subject, I im- 

 press upon them the necessity of adopting an entirely 

 different point of view from that to which they may 

 have become accustomed by the perusal of the former 

 27. volumes. So strongly do I feel the necessity of this, 



New point J 



tnat ^ am mc ^ me d to say, that except they are prepared 



to familiarise themselves with an entirely altered set 

 of interests, problems, and methods, I shall fail to gain, 

 or to retain, their attention in that which follows. 



Unity or harmony of thought may be the desired 



end, it may even be a growing tendency which has 



become more and more evident ; it certainly has not 



been the prominent external feature of nineteenth cen- 



28. tury Thought. The historian must first take note of 



Contrast to 



the differences, the contrasts, and controversies before 

 he can hope to trace the secret and underlying agree- 

 ment. The former present themselves wherever we 

 look, the latter is hidden a subject rather of specu- 

 lation and conjecture. 



Similarly in the line of political history, of biography, 

 of the histories of literature, or of practical life, a fuller 

 and correcter insight is frequently gained by emphasis- 

 ing differences, be they national, personal, or local, than 

 by dwelling on those features which belong to all forms 

 of human life and progress alike. I desire, then, first 



