CHAPTER III 

 COSMIC THEISM 1 



THE conclusions reached in the forego- 

 ing chapter were purely negative, and 

 would therefore be very unsatisfactory 

 if we were obliged to rest in them as final. Upon 

 the religious side of philosophy as well as upon 

 its scientific side, the mind needs some fun- 

 damental theorem with reference to which it 

 may occupy a positive attitude. According to 

 the theory of life and intelligence expounded in 

 previous chapters, mere scepticism can discharge 

 but a provisional and temporary function. To 

 the frivolously minded the mere negation of 

 belief may be in nowise distressing; but to the 

 earnest inquirer the state of scepticism is ac- 

 companied by pain, which, here as elsewhere, 

 is only subserving its proper function when it 

 stimulates him to renewed search after a positive 

 result. In the present transcendental inquiry it 

 may indeed at first sight seem impossible to 

 arrive at any positive result whatever, without 

 ignoring the relativity of knowledge and prov- 

 ing recreant to the rigorous requirements of the 



1 [See Introduction, § 30.] 

 231 



