INTRODUCTION xv 



has traveled by the side of that which has led to the human 

 intellect. The intellect is thus brought back to its generat- 

 ing cause, which we then have to grasp in itself and follow 

 in its movement. It is an effort of this kind that we at- 

 tempt — incompletely indeed — in our third chapter. A 

 fourth and last part is meant to show how our understand- 

 ing itself, by submitting to a certain discipline, might 

 prepare a philosophy which transcends it. For that, 

 a glance over the history of systems became necessary, 

 together with an analysis of the two great illusions to which, 

 as soon as it speculates on reality in general, the human 

 understanding is exposed. 



