THE UNFATHOMED UNIVERSE 45 



reality. To conserve this element of feeling, to which the analytic 

 mood of science is opposed, it is above all necessary to keep close 

 to the concrete realities themselves, keeping an open mind to their 

 influences. In this endeavour science may be of use, as a means of 

 culture rather than as an intellectual formulation, adding depth, 

 order, and connectedness to our vision. In the cultivation of feehng, 

 which requires to be kept well in hand, mental elbow-room must 

 be given to the fundamental impressions of immensity, flux, order, 

 intricacy, and beauty. 



Movement towards a philosophical Order of Nature, i.e., towards 

 a harmonious interpretation of Nature along with the rest of our 

 experience, may be discerned in the growing correlation of the 

 sciences, in the re-definition of their aim (descriptive rather than 

 explanatory), in the aid that has been given to science by philo- 

 sophical criticism of its categories, and in the endeavour that is 

 increasingly made by philosophers to take the results of science 

 into their consideration. Perhaps it may be said that feeling 

 supplies the mortar in which are laid the stones contributed by 

 Natural Science to the edifice which the genius of Philosophy is 

 building. 



When we are thrilled with the wonder of the world, the heights 

 and depths of things; when our Nature-feeling is informed with 

 knowledge; when our science leaves us with a conviction of the 

 mysteriousness of Nature — the unfathomed universe; when our 

 philosophical outlook leads us towards a realisation of a meaning 

 behind the process; then there may be a total reaction on our part 

 worthy of the name of Natural Religion. To facilitate this reaction 

 — by an accurate presentation of the facts — is one of the objects 

 of this course. 



