x ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER II. 



FIRST TRUTHS. 



&quot; Knowledge must be based on the study of mental facts, and on undemon- 

 strable truths which declare their own absolute certainty, and are seen by the 

 mind to be positively and necessarily true.&quot; 



Self-knowledge shows we can have absolute certainty without proof 

 Reasons why we should begin with a study of mind before studying 

 external nature And endeavour to harmonize our thoughts and feelings 

 Some differences between these Thought, not feeling, the test ot 

 truth Balmes and Mr. Herbert Spencer as to the necessity of starting 

 with undemonstrablc truths Mr. Spencer s test of ultimate truths, 

 false because merely negative Two distinct classes of unimaginable 

 propositions A fallacy of Professor Helmholtz Mr. Spencer s example 

 of absolute inconceivability Our perception of necessary truth not 

 limited by experience Propositions positively seen to be necessarily 

 true Summary of the propositions here arrived at Mr. Bain s ulti 

 mate criterion of truth The principle of contradiction denied by Mr. 

 Spencer, and the highest faculties of the human mind ignored As also 

 by Mr. Lewes The validity of our reasoning faculty Mr. Lewes con 

 founds reasoning with sensible association Summary and conclusion. 



pp. 2954 



CHAPTEE III. 



THE EXTERNAL WOULD. 



&quot;The real existence of an external world made up of objects possessing 

 qualities such as our faculties declare to us they do possess, cannot be looicalfv 

 denied and may rationally be affirmed.&quot; 



A justification of our belief in the external world here logically required 

 Prevalent scepticism on this subject amongst modern philosophers 

 and its cause Mr. John Stuart Mill Mr. Spencer s Transfigured Realism 

 His justification of it Outcome of it His reply to criticism Its 

 insufficiency His proof-case as to sound The truth of his affirmations 

 denied Mr. Spencer s feply to the charge of fundamental incoherence 

 Rejoinder to such reply Need of a more detailed survey of his 

 positions His observations on the relativity of our feelings The 

 impossibility of logically denying the objective validity of our perceptions 

 as to even the secondary qualities of objects Mr. Spencer on the rela 

 tivity of our relations between feelings On the effects of structure 



