INTRODUCTION. 73 



p 



and we find ourselves at the end of a long and critical 

 period unable to say that any one of the three realms 

 of thought has gained an undisputed victory over the 

 others. Science is more than ever that kind of thought 

 which gives knowledge and certainty. Eeligion is still 

 the generally recognised abode for those convictions 

 which refer to our deepest personal interests. And more 

 than ever do we feel the need of a reconciliation of both 22. 



Philosophy 



in some theory of life which is neither purely scientific nor ie media- 



<t tor between 



purely individualistic ; and this means that philosophy is 

 as much needed as ever. Our century has witnessed a 

 great development of scientific thought, a great revival in 

 religious interest, religious feeling, and religious activity, 

 and it is probably richer than any preceding age in 

 philosophical theories and systems. 



I must repeat here what I said above, that it is a 

 misfortune that in dealing with a complicated subject 

 we are obliged to divide it, that we are forced to give 

 preference to some one aspect, and to choose a special 



Philosophy is the veritable theo- gious belief, which threatened to be 

 dicy, compared with art and religion lost in the rationalistic and mystical 

 and their sentiments this recon- schools of the day. And this had 

 ciliation of the mind, indeed of that the further consequence that a 

 mind which has grasped itself in the scientific occupation with or inter- 

 freedom and wealth of its reality. est in religious subjects be it meta- 

 It is easy otherwise to find satisfac- physical or historical took the 

 tion in subordinate regions of intui- place of a purely religious interest, 

 tion and feeling," &c., &c. Al- j and that many eminent German 

 though it is an exaggeration to say theologians became either pure 

 that Hegel desired to absorb or metaphysicians or merely critics, 

 evaporate religious belief in philo- the practical side being lost sight of. 

 sophical knowledge, as his lengthy It is probably just as incorrect 

 explanation (Introduction to the to accuse Comte of an intention 

 ' History of Philosophy,' Works, vol. to destroy true religion because he 

 xiii. p. 77 sqq.) sufficiently proves, preached the well-known doctrine 

 there is no doubt that the senti- of the three stages of human 

 ment expressed in the above pas- thought the theological, the meta- 

 sage indicates that philosophy was physical, and the scientific or posi- 

 coming to the rescue of true reli- tive. 



