ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



/ THE STARTING-POINT. 



&quot; Our own continued existence is a primary truth known to us with supreme 

 certainty, and this certainty cannot be denied without involving the destruction 

 of all knowledge whatever.&quot; 



Reasons why the contemplation of nature has become a passion Specula 

 tive activity of our age Our need of a starting-point which cannot 

 be gainsaid The study of mind an experimental science The two 

 dangers of popular discussions Authority has no place in philosophy 

 Doubt only to be cured by investigation Bewildering effect of the 

 present conflict of opinion Expediency of stimulating a thorough in- 

 quiry The Agnostic philosophy Every philosophy of nescience stulti 

 fies itself Yet is to be directly encountered. On condition of admitting 

 three preliminary propositions The first proposition The second pro 

 positionThe third proposition The teaching of a leading .Agnostic as 

 to our knowledge of our own existence His analysis incomplete His 

 system can be destroyed by his own weapons As considered in its 

 parts And considered as a whole Self-existence known primarily 

 Self-existence implied in &quot; certainty &quot; itself The refutation of nescience 

 not to be evaded on the ground of the inadequacy of language A further 

 consequence What the word &quot; thought &quot; implies What truth is 

 &quot; Necessary &quot; truth The Agnostics assertion, if valid, implies many 

 truths they deny Logical consequences What is implied in asserting 

 the trustworthiness of memory A curious fallacy Mr. Spencer s view 

 as to our knowledge of our own existence He asserts a truism or an 

 absurdity An illustration An argumentum ad hominem What he 

 asserts implies the existence of what he denies Conclusion arrived at 

 The first lesson from nature PP- 1 ~ 2B 



