XV 



THE EVOLUTION OF MIND 



WHEN we come to look at the matter philo 

 sophically it is evident that, if indeed any finality 

 be possible to human knowledge, it cannot be at 

 tained without a study of mind. If we examine 

 the philosophic failures of the past, and inquire 

 whether there be any common factor in their in 

 stability, it is found that each was built upon an 

 erroneous theory of mind. From this it must not 

 be inferred that we can regard any theory of mind 

 as adequate; could we do so, philosophy in the 

 highest sense a knowledge of reality would 

 assuredly be possible. These philosophies failed 

 exactly because their makers took for granted 

 some root assumption or other which was without 

 any warrant in actuality. Indeed, it was not 

 until the time of Hume and his successor, Kant, 

 that any systematic inquiry was made into the 

 nature of knowledge a fact which furnishes a 

 most radical criticism upon the methods of their 

 many predecessors. 



In a very real sense, therefore, the study of mind 

 must occupy a primal place in the thoughts of any 



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