INTRODUCTORY. 89 



through reaction and contrast. This has, in modern 

 times, been abundantly evident in the rapidly succeed- 

 ing phases of modern history. It has also been recognised 

 by philosophical writers. Let us then try to correct the 

 formula of Comte so as to bring it into harmony with 

 the larger experience of the day. We might feel dis- 

 posed to say that Comte was right in assigning to 

 philosophical thought an intermediate or transitional 

 position, preferring, on our part, to speak of philosophy 

 rather than of metaphysics as the latter term, though 

 perfectly legitimate and useful, has acquired in the eyes 

 of many persons a doubtful meaning. We might then 

 go on to say that the stage of positive or exact thought 

 having been reached in the course of the nineteenth 

 century, this itself is producing the desire for a new 

 departure, a counter- movement which will call forth and 

 urge the active rather than the purely intellectual powers 

 of the human soul. Philosophy thus occupies still the 

 intermediate or transitional stage assigned to it by 

 Comte ; only that we now find ourselves, as it were, 

 reversing the Comtian process of development, passing 

 from the one-sided sway of exact or positive thought 

 through philosophy to a renewed life, not of dogmatic 

 Theology, but of practical Eeligion, bringing with it a 

 fresh display of the creative powers of the human mind. 

 In offering this concluding formula, I do not desire to 

 attach much importance to any scheme which unduly 

 abbreviates my task of exhibiting the mental forces of 

 our century in the fulness of their life and their many- 

 sided significance ; but conducting my readers, as I am 



