SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE METHODS 



when the soul, not yet encumbered with the 

 body, had free communion with Ideas. See what 

 an enormous hypothesis Plato erects upon a 

 slender basis of fact, and forthwith accepts as a 

 justification of that very subjective method by 

 the aid of which it was erected. For he else- 

 where tells us that since all knowledge is a re- 

 vival of preexistent ideas, therefore " from any 

 one idea we can arrive at all others, owing to 

 the logical connection existing between them ; " 

 and in this conclusion he states the fundamental 

 canon of the subjective method, as employed 

 by modern metaphysicians from Descartes to 

 Hegel. 



This illustration shows us, in a curious and 

 unexpected way, hoW intimately the Method 

 of the a priori metaphysician is wrapped up with 

 his Psychology, and how closely akin to each 

 other have been the multifarious manifestations 

 of the two in ancient and modern times. Be- 

 tween the subjective method and the doctrine of 

 the a priori character of necessary truths the kin- 

 ship is so close that Mr. Lewes is justified in de- 

 claring that " all that has been written on method 

 [from the scientific point of view] is imperilled 

 if there can be any valid evidence for the exist- 

 ence of an avenue through which knowledge 

 may be reached without recourse to experience." 

 Granting the a priori origin of necessary truths, 

 the validity of the subjective method is estab- 



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