The Problems of Metaphysic. Introduction to General Philosophy

As we are ourselves factors contained within the world-system our study of the world must begin from within that is with ourselves and the things round about us— with the various constituents and departments of the world within which we live—and must rise from the relations of the parts to the plan and purpose of the whole. [...] Then from the study of the things which have been evolved we may hope to rise by the right use of our reason to an aproximately true conception of the nature and pupose of the power which has evolved the world of things and given them their order and connection and given to ourselves our place and function in the system of the world—which is philosophy. [...] Here we are confronted with different hypothves as to the nature of soul and its reflation to the rest of the world ; and the metaphysic of mind' takes largely the form of an examination and criticism of these hypotheses to deteritin% which of them approximates most nearly to the nature of mind —chiefly dualism pluralism maMcialism and idealism or spiritualism. [...] Therefore f of nature has to advance to the metaphysic of nature and to' co-operate with P. of mind in seeking to.determine the relation between the phenomena of nature (the sensations in which nature manifests itself to mind) and the reality or substance of nature itself and the relation of that reality to the reality which is mind ; and to understand the Including the study of its phenmena [...] And as human beings are themselves factors in the process of the world and their actions either hinder or contribute to the higher evolution of the world the question arises : what is the true place purpose and function of man in the world-system and how is he to regulate his life and conduct so as to fulfil his purpose and realise his end and thereby attain the highest perfection of his bein