96 COSMIC PHILOSOPHY. [pt. l 



Tf x and y arc two uniformly connected properties in some 

 outer object, while a and b are the effects they produce 

 in our consciousness ; and if while the property x produces 

 in us the indifferent mental state a, the property y produces 

 in us the painful mental state b (answering to a physical 

 injury) ; then, all that is requisite for our guidance, is, that 

 x being the uniform accompaniment of y externally, a shall 

 be the uniform accompaniment o r o internally; so that when, 

 by the presence of x, a is produced in consciousness, b, or 

 rather the idea of b, shall follow it, and excite the motions by 

 which the effect of y may be escaped. The sole need is that 

 a and b and the relation between them, shall always answer 

 to x and y and the relation between them. It matters 

 nothing to us if a and b are like x and y or not. Could they 

 be exactly identical with them, we should not be one whit 

 the better off; and their total dissimilarity is no disadvan- 

 tage to us." 



Obviously this same illustration will apply equally to cases 

 where moral injury or intellectual error is to be avoided. And 

 since the ultimate function of philosophy is to be the intel- 

 lectual guide of our lives, — since our ultimate aim in ascer- 

 taining the relations of coexistence and sequence among 

 phenomena, is to shape our actions, physical, mental and 

 moral, in accordance with these relations, — it follows that 

 the philosophy whose character and scope I have here indi- 

 cated is sufficient for our highest needs. And thus we are 

 led to the conclusion that the object of that metaphysical 

 philosophy which seeks to ascertain the nature of things in 

 themselves, is not only unattainable, but would have no 

 imaginable value, even if it could be attained. The proper 

 attitude of the mind, when face to face with the Unknown 

 Keality, is, therefore, not a speculative, but an emotional 

 attitude. It belongs, as we shall by and by more distinctly 

 see, not to Philosophy, but to Keligion. 



