THE QUESTION STATED 



law of evolution is the first generalization con- 

 cerning the concrete universe as a whole, which 

 has been framed in conscious conformity to the 

 rigorous requirements of the objective method, 

 and which has therefore served to realize the 

 prophetic dream of Bacon, by presenting Phi- 

 losophy as an organism of which the various 

 sciences are members. Obviously a system 

 which has achieved, or consciously sought to 

 achieve, such a result, is entitled par excellence 

 to the name of Cosmic Philosophy. It has 

 been the first to give practical realization to 

 that sublime thought of two master minds, 

 which I have inscribed at the head of this 

 work : — 



" To a thinker capable of comprehending it 

 from a single point of view, the universe would 

 present but a single fact, but one all-compre- 

 hensive truth ; and it is for this reason that we 

 call it Cosmos, and not chaos." 



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