THE WORLD A SPIRITUAL WORLD 135 



argument based on the assumption that our 

 ignorance is knowledge. 



Looking back at the argument stated in 

 the first lecture, we can see that it was based 

 on a mere provisional hypothesis with regard 

 to the nature of the external world. This 

 hypothesis serves a useful though limited 

 purpose ; but we have seen that it is not, and 

 cannot be, a true account of reality, whereas 

 the materialistic argument was based on the 

 assumption that it is a true account ; and 

 that matter and energy as such are realities 

 which cannot be questioned. In actual fact 

 we do not understand, except in the most 

 imperfect manner, the reality which lies 

 behind the appearance of a physical world. 

 But we understand enough to be certain that 

 this reality has, and can have, no existence 

 apart from personality, since existence itself 

 has no meaning apart from spiritual exist 

 ence. 



Philosophical discussion helps us to realise 

 that on every hand we are surrounded by 

 mysteries to be solved, and points out the 

 paths of further investigation. Except by 

 the combination of painful and accurate 



