:SPAIR OF PHILOSOPHY. 



tlon of life cannot be more than probable. And in 

 action especially we are often forced to act upon 

 slight possibilities. Hence, if it can be shown that 

 our solution is a possible answer, and the only pos- 

 sible alternative to pessimism, to a complete despair 

 of life, it would deserve acceptance, even though it 

 were but a bare possibility. But, though human 

 minds vary greatly in their estimates of indefinite 

 probabilities, it may perhaps appear to some to be 

 far more than a possibility, and to be based on prin- 

 ciples which will be confirmed by subsequent ac- 

 cumulations of material, even when, as must be 

 expected, its minor details are proved erroneous 

 by the growth of knowledge. 



The contention, then, of this essay is, that the 

 prevalent despair of philosophy can not be justified. 

 But though it cannot be justified, it may be ex- 

 plained, and its explanation is the first step towards 

 its refutation. 



§ 2. Religion, philosophy, and science have all 

 contributed to discredit the possibility of a theory 

 of life. With regard to the first, it must be admitted 

 that its present position is a not undeserved Nemesis 

 on its past policy. The alienation from religion of 

 so much of the best thought of our times, and the 

 consequent discord in the ranks of the all too scanty 

 army of the fighters for righteousness, is deplorable 

 but not astonishing ; for the short-sighted leaders 

 of the religious masses have too often abused their 

 position in favour of obscurantism, have too often 

 burked inconvenient questions by sophistical evas- 

 ions. Professing themselves the depositaries of 

 divine knowledge, they have too often cast a doubt 

 upon its value by confessing to ignorance concern- 

 ing the vital issues of human life. They have 



