CHAPTER II. 



THE COMPLETE UNIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE 

 IMPOSSIBLE. 



MR. SPENCER defines philosophy as "completely- 

 unified knowledge."* Before proceeding to the 

 examination of his system, which claims to answer 

 this definition, a previous question must be deter- 

 mined, Is the complete unification of knowledge pos- 

 sible ? In other words, Is philosophy, in Mr. Spencer's 

 meaning of the term, possible ? 



I answer in the negative. It is a fundamental error 

 to assume that thought is competent to embrace all 

 the knowable in one organic whole in a comprehen- 

 sible unity. A necessary condition of scientific pro- 

 gress is to accept the limits of intelligence. From the 

 Eleatic to the Evolutionist an overweening desire for 

 systematized unity has perverted science. The system- 

 builder has been one of the chief hindrances in the 

 way of advancing knowledge. Intellectual progress 

 cannot proceed with steady step along the whole line 

 of the knowable, until it is clearly seen and frankly 

 acknowledged that complete unification transcends- 



* First Principles, Part II., 37. 



