SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE METHODS 



Crete examples, the difference between the sub- 

 jective and objective methods, which is the prac- 

 tical difference between metaphysics and science. 

 We are accordingly in a position to consider, 

 somewhat more closely than we have hitherto 

 done, the essential point of difference between 

 the scientific mode of philosophizing which we 

 accept and the metaphysical mode of philoso- 

 phizing which we reject. It is well that, in our 

 polemic against metaphysics, there should be no 

 room left for ambiguity or misconception. It 

 has already been sufficiently explained that in 

 doing away with metaphysics we do not set 

 aside philosophy, but place it on a firmer foun- 

 dation than before. And while it is thus appar- 

 ent that we have not identified metaphysics with 

 philosophy, it is also evident that we have by 

 no means fallen into the vulgar error of identi- 

 fying it with psychology, or the inquiry into the 

 phenomena of consciousness, which is as much 

 a science as chemistry or physiology. How, 

 then, shall we precisely define the metaphysics 

 against which we have, during these five chap- 

 ters and from various points of attack, been 

 waging warp 



To arrive at the true meaning of " Meta- 

 physics," we can hardly do better than go back 

 to the historical origin of the word. Aristotle 

 wrote a treatise on Physics, and also an elab- 

 orate dissertation upon sundry transcendental 



185 



