Introductory — The New Knowledge 7 



the wise called illogical. Yet if they are productive and 

 operative in actual life we may find them entitled to a place 

 in any discussion of conduct and none the less worthy in 

 being indefinable. Humanity declines to accept as the only 

 alternative to a theology which is outgrown, a materialism 

 which denies imagination, and which would restrict all 

 future time to its own present conceptions. 



In this endeavor to follow where ideals lead, there must 

 be no intention to evade reason, or to fear the logic of any 

 argument or fact. If the study develops conclusions differ- 

 ent from those in vogue the difference lies often in the point 

 of view and not in a conflict of facts. The preference (or 

 prejudice it may be called) of the present review is con- 

 fessedly for reasoning which admits ideals, yet the problems 

 arising in matter are to be viewed with due materialism. 



The thing attempted is the search for valuable inferences 

 in regard to facts already known ; and these facts are mar- 

 shalled in a progressive series beginning in observation and 

 analysis of the very old and very simple, and leading up- 

 ward to the successively higher developments with their 

 early and remote consequences. The point of view may 

 prove in some respects to be at profound interest and of 

 convincing force. 



