INTRODUCTION 



was most notable and distinctive about Fiske's 

 position as a student of philosophical problems, 

 in so far as he explained or indicated this posi- 

 tion in the " Cosmic Philosophy." In other 

 words, this Introduction has to tell how Fiske 

 the thinker is here distinguishable from Fiske 

 the disciple and expositor. In the second place, 

 this Introduction is to discuss what modification 

 Fiske's position, especially regarding the most 

 fundamental problems, underwent, in conse- 

 quence of his development in later years, and 

 also how Fiske*s relation to Spencer*s philoso- 

 phy appears, in the light of those publications 

 of Spencer which are subsequent to the produc- 

 tion of the " Cosmic Philosophy.*' In the third 

 place, the Introduction is to suggest how, in 

 consequence of all these facts, one may fairly 

 conceive that the original form and matter of 

 the " Cosmic Philosophy " would have seemed 

 to the author, in his later years, to need modi- 

 fication. 



It has fallen to my lot to take charge of this 

 delicate task. But by way of limiting the scope 

 of this Introduction, I must indeed forthwith 

 explain that it is no part of my present office, 

 or of my desire, to criticise the " Cosmic Phi- 

 losophy " from my own point of view, or to 

 offer any estimate of the permanent worth, 

 either of the Spencerian doctrine or of our 

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