PREFACE xi

necessary, preliminary, because assumptions and convictions

which are indispensable for the carrying on of science, must

be more or less closely connected with the groundwork

thereof. Such an introductory inquiry however, should, we

think, be only made in order to ascertain what are the

necessary implications of science, the question as to the

objective truth of such necessary implications finding its

place (as before said) later on, namely, towards the climax

of our inquiry. These implications cannot but be very

nearly related to questions concerning our highest mental

faculties. Such must be the case, since science, in the widest

sense of that word (including even the science of sciences, or

metaphysics), requires for its satisfactory prosecution the

employment of our very noblest powers, and it is by them

alone that we can hope to attain a knowledge of the most

supreme and ultimate truths which our intellectual faculties

have the power to apprehend.

On this account, before entering upon our final inquiry as

to what it is which constitutes the groundwork of science,

we must study the nature and power of what seem to be

our highest faculties ; but this we cannot usefully proceed

to do till we have taken cognizance of our ordinary mental

powers, upon the pre-existence and exercise of which the

possibility of such higher faculties depends. But, again, it

is obvious that our ordinary mental powers, our emotions,

our feelings, and the actions which thence result, are abso-

lutely dependent on our bodily capacities, and our bodily

powers are not less entirely dependent upon our corporeal

structure.

Therefore, in order to duly comprehend our highest

intellectual faculties, we needs must begin with a considera-

tion of at least some points in the construction of the

human body especially that of such parts as minister

to feeling in general, and to our special senses, such as

necessary, preliminary, because assumptions and convictions

which are indispensable for the carrying on of science, must

be more or less closely connected with the groundwork

thereof. Such an introductory inquiry however, should, we

think, be only made in order to ascertain what are the

necessary implications of science, the question as to the

objective truth of such necessary implications finding its

place (as before said) later on, namely, towards the climax

of our inquiry. These implications cannot but be very

nearly related to questions concerning our highest mental

faculties. Such must be the case, since science, in the widest

sense of that word (including even the science of sciences, or

metaphysics), requires for its satisfactory prosecution the

employment of our very noblest powers, and it is by them

alone that we can hope to attain a knowledge of the most

supreme and ultimate truths which our intellectual faculties

have the power to apprehend.

On this account, before entering upon our final inquiry as

to what it is which constitutes the groundwork of science,

we must study the nature and power of what seem to be

our highest faculties ; but this we cannot usefully proceed

to do till we have taken cognizance of our ordinary mental

powers, upon the pre-existence and exercise of which the

possibility of such higher faculties depends. But, again, it

is obvious that our ordinary mental powers, our emotions,

our feelings, and the actions which thence result, are abso-

lutely dependent on our bodily capacities, and our bodily

powers are not less entirely dependent upon our corporeal

structure.

Therefore, in order to duly comprehend our highest

intellectual faculties, we needs must begin with a considera-

tion of at least some points in the construction of the

human body especially that of such parts as minister

to feeling in general, and to our special senses, such as