EVOLUTION THE MASTER-KEY 



alone. We may, therefore, finally inquire into this 

 first section of the synthetic philosophy and see 

 whether it has any more searching light for us, 

 after our consideration of the greater part of 

 the philosophy which deals with the knowable 

 phenomena of star and star - fish, mind and 

 morals. 



It has been said, without knowledge or any at- 

 tempt to gain it, that the section on the unknow- 

 able took its origin in the fact that Spencer had to 

 set down something about reality, and therefore 

 fished about in the metaphysical text -books of 

 the time for something that would do. It sounds 

 likely. The present chapter may, therefore, fitly 

 conclude with a refutation of that assertion ; where- 

 after we may proceed to look at the doctrine which 

 Spencer actually conceived. In a letter written to 

 his father in 1849, Spencer says, as to the "ulti- 

 mate nature of things": 



"My position is simply that I know nothing about it, 

 and never can know anything about it, and must be 

 content in my ignorance. I deny nothing and I affirm 

 nothing, and to any one who says that the current theory 

 is not true, I say, just as I say to those who assert its truth: 

 ' You have no evidence. Either alternative leaves us in 

 inextricable difficulties. An uncaused deity is just as in- 

 conceivable as an uncaused universe. If the existence of 

 matter from all eternity is incomprehensible, the crea- 

 tion of matter out of nothing is equally incomprehensible. 

 Thus finding that either attempt to conceive the origin of 

 things is futile, I am content to leave the question unset- 

 tled as the insoluble mystery.' " 



334 



