1 62 THE METHOD OF PHILOSOPHY. 



life, and shown itself more sensitive to outside in- 

 fluences. 



And it is manifest that this sectarian adherence to 

 the traditional formulation of philosophic questions 

 affords but the slenderest guarantee that the first 

 principles of philosophy will be such as to be 

 applicable to any other subject. Such principles 

 have no organic connexion with the positive 

 sciences, and very often must be incapable of 

 utilizing scientific facts. Hence the general attitude 

 of abstract metaphysics is anti- scientific, and hence 

 the antagonism of physical science and philosophy, 

 which in the present day is so detrimental to the 

 best interests of both. 



Thus each of the two methods on which the 

 human mind has hitherto placed its chief reliance 

 in order to achieve the Herculean task of silencing 

 the Sphinx, is vitiated by its peculiar disabilities. 

 The pseudo-metaphysical method may be compared 

 to an earth-born Antseus, whose strength fails as 

 soon as he is raised above the ground ; the abstract 

 metaphysical to a flighty Icarus, who reaches the 

 ground only in his death. The one is of use only 

 on the earth, and the other only in the air, whereas 

 the winged Sphinx is equally at home in either 

 element. 



§ 9. We require, then, a method which combines 

 the excellencies of both the pseudo-metaphysical 

 and the abstract metaphysical, if philosophy is to be 

 possible at all. It must be metaphysical, and yet 

 not abstract ; it must agree with the metaphysical in 

 explaining the lower by the higher, and with the^ 

 pseudo-metaphysical in admitting their intrinsic like- 

 ness and the continuity of all existence. And so 

 it must avoid the weaknesses of the others. Un 



I 



