PHILOSOPHY OF HUME 147 



add to my offence in some quarters, I must plead, in extenua- 

 tion of my audacity, that philosophy lies in the province ot 

 science, and not in that of letters." 



To demonstrate the scientific nature of Hume's philo- 

 sophy would appear to be the chief aim of the sequel of 

 Huxley's book. The view stated in the last sentence of 

 the above quotation is expanded in Chap. I. " On the 

 Object and Scope of Philosophy " : — 



" If the origin of the contents of the mind is truly a philo- 

 sophical problem, then the philosopher who attempts to deal 

 with that problem, without acquainting himself with the 

 physiology of sensation, has no more intelligent conception of 

 his business than the physiologist, who thinks he can discuss 

 locomotion, without an acquaintance with the principles of 

 mechanics ; or respiration, without some tincture of chemistry. 

 On whatever ground we term physiology, science, psychology 

 is entitled to the same appellation. . . . Hence, as philosophy 

 is, in great measure, the exponent of the logical consequences 

 of certain data established by psychology ... it would seem 

 to be an obvious conclusion that philosophers are likely to be 

 successful in their inquiries, in proportion as they are familiar 

 with the application of scientific method to less abstruse 

 subjects. . . . And it is accordant with this presumption, 

 that the men who have made the most important positive 

 additions to philosophy, such as Descartes, Spinoza and Kant, 

 not to mention more recent examples, have been deeply imbued 

 with the spirit of physical science ; and, in some cases, such as 

 those of Descartes and Kant, have been largely acquainted with 

 its details. ... In truth, the laboratory is the fore- court of 

 the temple of philosophy ; and whoso has not offered sacrifices 

 and undergone purification there, has little chance of admission 

 into the sanctuary " (pp. 60-1). 



Then follows the application to the case of Hume : — 



" It is assuredly one of Hume's greatest merits that he 

 clearly recognised the fact that philosophy is based upon 

 psychology ; and that the inquiry into the contents and the 

 operations of the mind must be conducted upon the same 



