XX11 CONTENTS. 



BOOK II. 



THE GOSPEL AND THE SOCIAL CREED OF SCIENCE. 

 CHAPTER I. 



PESSIMISM AND POSITIVE SCIENCE. 



PAGE 



1. Modern pessimism " The Occidental Buddhism." Explanation 



and meaning of the phenomenon ... ... ... 199 



2 Answer to the pessimist : from the experience of the majority ; 

 from the interpretation of consciousness. Consciousness 

 not essentially a want and a pain. Pessimism not the word 

 of life to-day in Western Europe. The " denial of the will 

 to live" and the struggle for existence... ... ... 206 



3. Positive science and positivism. Common principle and point 



of view. Science and Metaphysics ... ... ... 210 



4. Causes of the rise and spread of the positive spirit. Whether 



the old metaphysical questions, stripped of their unreal ele- 

 ments, may not be answered from the positive point of view 215 



5. The positive standpoint suffices at least for all questions relat- 



ing to practice ... ... ... ... ... 220 



CHAPTER II. 



THE MESSAGE AND THE PROMISES TO MANKIND. 



1. The revelation of science ... ... ... ... 223 



2. The truths of science calculated to beget a resigned and re- 



ligious frame of mind ... ... ... ... 225 



3. Knowledge the emancipator and deliverer. The pursuit of 



knowledge the worship and sacrifice accepted by Nature. 

 Grace and favours which physical science has gained for us 

 from Nature ... ... ... ... ... 228 



4. What medical science and physiology have done for us ... 233 



5. The new philosophy and the general probation of life. How 



far the latter may be mitigated by knowledge. Need of 

 stoicism and resignation for which a knowledge of the uni- 

 versal order prepares us ... ... ... ... 236 



6. Good side of the struggle for existence. Competition, its uses 



and necessity. The race in the future ... ... 242 



CHAPTER III. 



TO THE POOR. SCIENCE AND SOCIALISM. 



1. The socialist's indictment against modern society. Causes of 

 poverty and all social evils, according to the socialist. The 

 only cure ... ... ... ... ... ... 248 



2. Reply of the sociologist and political economist. Social evils 

 spring from imperfect human nature, not from unjust laws, 

 or imperfect constitution of society. Further development 

 of this view. Consequences. Advice of the sociologist and 

 economist to the poor ... ... ... ... 261 



