CHAPTER V. 



RE C O N S TR UC TI N. 



§ I. The avowed object of the preceding chap- 

 ters has been to trace out the consequences of the 

 denial of metaphysics, i.e. of a systematic examin- 

 ation of ultimate questions, and of Its bearing upon 

 the theory and practice of life. But incidentally far 

 more serious results followed. Not merely did 

 Positivism lead on to Aofnosticism, Aornosticism to 

 Scepticism, and Scepticism to Pessimism, but the 

 two latter strengthened themselves with arguments 

 which it seems well-nigh impossible to refute. And 

 so what advance has been made towards a solution 

 of the problem of life ? What has It availed to 

 show the dire consequences of the unphllosophical 

 view, If In so doing we have destroyed also the 

 basis of all others ? Have we not enmeshed our- 

 selves also in a deadly snare and been beguiled 

 into a position from which there is no escape ? 

 Have we not ourselves destroyed all the hopes or 

 Illusions that make life valuable ? 



Yet it may be that this apparent loss will prove 

 real gain ; even now it is possible to see counter- 

 vailing advantages. 



In the first place, we have faced the worst that 

 can be said against the scheme of things, and may 

 at least hope to be acquitted of the suspicion that 

 weakness or disingenuousness has prompted us to 



