330 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
apparent heterogeneity to a consistent unity. These laws, founded as they are 
upon the accepted inductions of science, must be accepted as true. They too, 
like mythology, theology and the philosophy of the necessary, point toa supreme 
being that is infinite and absolute. Upon the inductions of science, serving as 
foundation for these laws, has been founded, also, the evolution hypothesis, which, 
during the past century has been so widely accepted by scientific men. To unify 
and explain nature by these laws, and in accord with the evolution hypothesis, 
is the purpose of the Synthetic Philosophy of Mr. Herbert Spencer, of which a 
republication in this country has been made during the current year. To ex- 
amine this philosophy, as such, is the purpose of this paper. 
It begins with an analysis of the teachings of science and religion, in which 
it is shown that the ultimate idea of both is that there is absolute and infinite 
being. It then explains that all knowledge of which man is capable is relative, 
and hence, as absolute and infinite being is not relative, knowledge of it transcends 
human power. ‘Here the system might be charged with a grievous fault, for it is 
no explanation of a thing to say that itis unknowable. The conditions of philos- 
‘ophy are not complied with, and its function, which is to explain, is not dis- 
charged. Man’s longing for knowledge is not satisfied, and if the conclusion be 
true, he is condemned toa most cruel fate in being compelled perpetually to 
seek to know that which is unknowable. 
, But to dismiss the subject here, as might justly be done, would not do justice 
to the merits and demerits of the system, both of which it possesses in large 
measure. It next explains that our idea of space is an abstract of our experiences 
of co-existent, resisting position. That is, that we continually meet with things 
in nature that occupy positions and resist our energies, and that by mentally 
abstracting these things from the positions occupied and leaving positions that do 
not resist, we attain the idea of space, or position that offers no resistance. Ex- 
perience of force is, therefore, the foundation of our idea of space, whence it is 
concluded that force is the real being here met with. A similar analysis is made 
of our idea of time. Here the resisting positions, from experience with which the 
idea is derived, are successive instead of simultaneous. Hence here, also, our 
idea is an abstract of experience of force, and force is the being underlying it. 
Motion is shown to be only the sensible sign of something that moves, and as 
‘moving involves the exercise of force, force is here also the real being experi- 
‘enced, In regard to matter, it 1s shown that our knowledge of it arises from our 
‘experience of its resistance of our energy and its power to so affect us as to pro- 
duce sensation. ‘The ultimate reality in matter is, therefore, force. From these 
‘considerations it is concluded that the real being in nature, its ultimate, absolute 
principle, is force. That principle in man which is commonly known as the soul 
is manifest to us, it is claimed, asa force. It has activity, which implies force, 
and exhibits a form of motion which we know as intelligence. Therefore force 
is here the reality, and hence it is concluded that force is the ultimate principle 
of the universe, the real being that is infinite and absolute. 
