in his mysticism）； have not been able to bring this question to a
settled conclusion。 The procedure of Epicurus in his sensual system；
in which he always restricted his conclusions to the sphere of
experience； was much more consequent than that of Aristotle and Locke。
The latter especially； after having derived all the conceptions and
principles of the mind from experience； goes so far； in the employment
of these conceptions and principles； as to maintain that we can
prove the existence of God and the existence of God and the
immortality of them objects lying beyond the soul… both of them of
possible experience… with the same force of demonstration as any
mathematical proposition。
3。 In relation to method。 Method is procedure according to
principles。 We may divide the methods at present employed in the field
of inquiry into the naturalistic and the scientific。 The naturalist of
pure reason lays it down as his principle that mon reason；
without the aid of science… which he calls sound reason； or mon
sense… can give a more satisfactory answer to the most important
questions of metaphysics than speculation is able to do。 He must
maintain； therefore； that we can determine the content and
circumference of the moon more certainly by the naked eye； than by the
aid of mathematical reasoning。 But this system is mere misology
reduced to principles； and； what is the most absurd thing in this
doctrine； the neglect of all scientific means is paraded as a peculiar
method of extending our cognition。 As regards those who are
naturalists because they know no better； they are certainly not to
be blamed。 They follow mon sense； without parading their
ignorance as a method which is to teach us the wonderful secret； how
we are to find the truth which lies at the bottom of the well of
Democritus。
Quod sapio satis est mihi； non ego curo Esse quod
Arcesilas aerumnosique Solones。 PERSIUS*
is their motto； under which they may lead a pleasant and praise worthy
life； without troubling themselves with science or troubling science
with them。
*＇Satirae； iii。 78…79。 〃What I know is enough for I don't care to be
what Arcesilas was； and the wretched Solons。〃＇
As regards those who wish to pursue a scientific method； they have
now the choice of following either the dogmatical or the sceptical；
while they are bound never to desert the systematic mode of procedure。
When I mention； in relation to the former； the celebrated Wolf； and as
regards the latter； David Hume； I may leave； in accordance with my
present intention； all others unnamed。 The critical path alone is
still open。 If my reader has been kind and patient enough to acpany
me on this hitherto untravelled route； he can now judge whether； if he
and others will contribute their exertions towards making this
narrow footpath a high road of thought； that which many centuries have
failed to acplish may not be executed before the close of the
present… namely； to bring Reason to perfect contentment in regard to
that which has always； but without permanent results； occupied her
powers and engaged her ardent desire for knowledge。
…THE END…
。