136 PHILOSOPHY DEFINED. 



mnlates. It is the final product of that process which begins 

 with a mere colligation of crude observations, goes on estab- 

 lishing propositions that are broader and more separated 

 from particular cases, and ends in universal propositions. 

 Or to bring the definition to its simplest and clearest form: 

 — Knowledge of the lowest kind is un-unified knowledge; 

 Science is partially -unified knowledge ; Philosophy is com- 

 pletely-unified knowledge. 



§ 38. Such, at least, is the meaning we must here give to 

 the word Philosophy, if we employ it at all. In so defining 

 it, we accept that which is common to the various concep- 

 tions of it current among both ancients and moderns — re- 

 jecting those elements in which these conceptions disagree, 

 or exceed the possible range of intelligence. In short, we 

 are simply giving precision to that application of the word 

 which is gradually establishing itself. 



Two forms of Philosophy, as thus understood, may be 

 distinguished and dealt with separately. On the one hand, 

 the things contemplated may be the universal truths: all 

 particular truths referred to being used simply for proof or 

 elucidation of these universal truths. On the other hand, 

 setting out with the universal truths as granted, the things 

 contemplated may be the particular truths as interpreted by 

 them. In both cases we deal with the universal truths; 

 but in the one case they are passive and in the other case 

 active — in the one case they form the products of explora- 

 tion and in the other case the instruments of exploration. 

 These divisions we may appropriately call General Philoso- 

 phy and Special Philosophy respectively. 



The remainder of this volume will be devoted to General 

 Philosophy. Special Philosophy, divided into parts deter- 

 mined by the natures of the phenomena treated, will be the 

 subject-matter of subsequent volumes. 



