CHAPTER XI 

 THE QUESTION STATED 



WE have now accomplished our pre- 

 liminary task of defining and illus- 

 trating the scope and methods of Cos- 

 mic Philosophy, and are prepared to begin the 

 work of constructing a theory of the universe 

 out of the elements which science can furnish. 

 It will accordingly become necessary for us to 

 pass in review the sciences systematized in the 

 eighth chapter, that we may be enabled to con- 

 template the widest truths which they severally 

 reveal, as corollaries of some ultimate truth. In 

 undertaking this task, there are two opposite 

 courses, either of which we might pursue, though 

 with differing degrees and kinds of success. On 

 the one hand, we might begin with a survey of 

 the concrete sciences ; and having ascertained 

 the most general truths respectively formulated 

 by astronomy, geology, biology, psychology, 

 and sociology, we might interpret all these 

 truths in common by merging them all in a 

 single widest generalization concerning the con- 

 crete universe as a whole ; and lastly, through 

 an analysis of this widest generalization we 

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