viii THE GROUNDWORK OF SCIENCE

be ultimate, but must be posterior to, and depend upon, the

principles, experiments, or observations which show us that

it is indeed true, and upon which its acceptance thus depends;

while the reflex certainty of observations and experiments

themselves, also implies the recognition of fundamental in-

tellectual perceptions. Therefore, the groundwork of science

must be composed of facts and of truths which carry with

them their own evidence which are self-evident together

with our own mental activity in reflecting upon and recog-

nizing such propositions as being the self-evident truths they

are. Amongst such truths (as we shall hereafter see) must

be that of our continued existence from day to day, and the

certainty that we cannot at the same time continue to exist

and yet cease to be, with others of similar nature. Such

truths, it will be sought to show, cannot be really doubted

without mental paralysis and self-stultification, for complete

scepticism, as absolutely and necessarily self-destructive, is

impossible for us. This assertion our readers are now asked

to provisionally accept for what it may be worth, as full

treatment of this and kindred subjects will find its place in

the eighth chapter. They cannot be fully treated earlier,

because before beginning to consider those fundamental

questions, regarded as most essential elements of the ground-

work of science, the way must be cleared for their due

appreciation by a preliminary consideration of the various in-

tellectual structures (the sciences) the foundations common to

the whole of which it is the purpose of this book to point out.

At the commencement, therefore, it appears incumbent on

us, after considering what science is and of what it must

consist, to call attention to certain elementary facts and

distinctions without which it seems impossible to follow up

any intellectual inquiry : such facts, e.g., are (in our opinion)

the essential nature both of our ideas and the words we

make use of to express them.

be ultimate, but must be posterior to, and depend upon, the

principles, experiments, or observations which show us that

it is indeed true, and upon which its acceptance thus depends;

while the reflex certainty of observations and experiments

themselves, also implies the recognition of fundamental in-

tellectual perceptions. Therefore, the groundwork of science

must be composed of facts and of truths which carry with

them their own evidence which are self-evident together

with our own mental activity in reflecting upon and recog-

nizing such propositions as being the self-evident truths they

are. Amongst such truths (as we shall hereafter see) must

be that of our continued existence from day to day, and the

certainty that we cannot at the same time continue to exist

and yet cease to be, with others of similar nature. Such

truths, it will be sought to show, cannot be really doubted

without mental paralysis and self-stultification, for complete

scepticism, as absolutely and necessarily self-destructive, is

impossible for us. This assertion our readers are now asked

to provisionally accept for what it may be worth, as full

treatment of this and kindred subjects will find its place in

the eighth chapter. They cannot be fully treated earlier,

because before beginning to consider those fundamental

questions, regarded as most essential elements of the ground-

work of science, the way must be cleared for their due

appreciation by a preliminary consideration of the various in-

tellectual structures (the sciences) the foundations common to

the whole of which it is the purpose of this book to point out.

At the commencement, therefore, it appears incumbent on

us, after considering what science is and of what it must

consist, to call attention to certain elementary facts and

distinctions without which it seems impossible to follow up

any intellectual inquiry : such facts, e.g., are (in our opinion)

the essential nature both of our ideas and the words we

make use of to express them.