Project of the Ultimate Philosophy.

PROLEGOMENA.

THE existing anarchy of the sciences consequent upon the schism between reason and revelation: its historical origin, progress, extent and evils.

The question of a logical affiliation of reason and revelation, and consequent logical organization of the mass of knowledge.

The great interests involved in the question.

Present state of opinion and parties upon the question:

1. The Extremists, both theologians and philosophers.

Need and prospects of the Ultimate Philosophy: its idea, utility, rise and growth, and method. Three general works or efforts included in its project.

PART I.-SCIENCE OF THE SCIENCES.

1. EXPURGATION OF THE SCIENCES.

Misconceptions as to the origin, value, and dignity of science. Of science as the function of the social or collective mind. Of science as distinguished from ordinary or popular knowledge.

Of science as distinguished from art.

Of science as distinguished from philosophy.

Its essential unity amid artificial divisions.

Its steady progress through human vicissitudes and adverse influences.

Various popular, professional, and philosophical prejudices, which now hinder the unity and growth of the sciences: their source and remedy.

Various intellectual and moral qualifications for pursuing the sciences demanded by their present state.

Conditions and resources of a science of the sciences.

2. SURVEY OF THE SCIENCES.

German, French, and English classifications or systems of the sciences: their merits and defects.

Principles of the true system: 1st. That they should be arranged according to the actual order of phenomena, the terrestrial being associated with the celestial, and the material preceding the moral. 2d. That they should be divided by the modes or kinds of cognition in each of them the inductive being distinguished from the intuitive, or the rational from the revealed; as follows:

PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

Mechanics, or science of inorganic matter.
Chemistry, or science of organic matter.

Biology, or science of vital matter.

PSYCHICAL SCIENCES.

Psychology, or science of individual mind.
Sociology, or science of associate mind.

Theology, or science of infinite mind.

Each of the series being as to its field of cognition, both celestial and terrestrial, and as to its mode of cognition, both inductive and intuitive, though in unequal portions and degrees.

Characteristics of material as distinguished from moral science.

Characteristics of inductive as distinguished from intuitive

science.

Relative advancement of the sciences.

Brief summary of their results: in the expansion of the intellect, in the accumulation of truth, and in new accessions of human power, dignity, and happiness.

Their need and readiness for some logical organization and more systematic culture.

3. THEORY OF THE SCIENCES, OR DOCTRINE OF COGNITION. (1) Of the cognitive, or the means of cognition.

False theories, which would reject either reason or revelation, or would derange their normal relations.

The true theory, that of their gradual coincidence and ultimate harmony.

Foundation for this theory in both the nature and the history of the human intellect.

Its accuracy and fitness.

(2) Of the cognizable, or the material of cognition.

False theories, which would ignore celestial or spiritual phenomena as inaccessible or imaginary.

The true theory, that which would be cognizant of both in their actual coexistences and successions, and claim as the ideal domain of science the whole aggregate of worlds throughout all ages. Foundation for this theory in both the structure and the development of the universe.

Its completeness and grandeur.

(3) Of the cognitive in action upon the cognizable, or the process of cognition.

False theories, which would either confine reason to terrestrial and material phenomena, or confine revelation to spiritual and celestial phenomena.

The true theory, that which would combine both modes of cognition in all fields of cognition as involving a joint process of

finite and infinite intelligence throughout immensity and eternity, toward the goal of omniscience.

Foundation for this theory in the relations of finite and Infinite mind, and in the history of the human sciences.

Procession of the sciences in correspondence with the procession of phenomena, as involving an endless review of the creation, by the creature, for the glory of the Creator.

Ideal perfectibility of knowledge as contrasted with its actual imperfection.

Means and motives for ever striving after perfect knowledge.

PART II.-ART OF THE SCIENCES.

Need of precepts for pursuing and perfecting the sciences. Preliminary work of a logical partition of the sciences, with a view to their systematic culture.

1. AXIOMS OF NOMOLOGY, or organon of inductive science.

2. AXIOMS OF ETIOLOGY, or

3. AXIOMS OF ONTOLOGY, or

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of intuitive

66 of omniscience.

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The ideal of a full equipment of the sciences for their work of endless progression toward perfect knowledge.

Prospect of its realization.

PART III.-SCIENCE OF THE ARTS.

Practical issue of the sciences in their correspondent arts. This growth of the arts out of the sciences, from having been spontaneous and irregular, may become more and more logical and systematic.

Logical partition of the arts to be adjusted to that of the sci

ences.

1. SCIENCE OF THE MATERIAL ARTS, or principles which regulate the rational control of man over mechanical and chemical phenomena in both the terrestrial and celestial spheres of action.

2. SCIENCE OF THE MORAL ARTS, or principles which regulate

the rational control of man over individual and social phenomena in both the terrestrial and celestial spheres of action.

3. SCIENCE OF THE RELIGIOUS ARTS, or principles which regulate the rational control of man, in co-operation with God, over both material and spiritual phenomena.

Procession of the arts from and with the sciences as involving the progressive dominion of the creature over the creation, and his participation in the glory of the Creator.

Ideal perfectibility of the arts as contrasted with their actual imperfection.

Consummation of the ultimate philosophy in three grand issues of human history:

(1) The ultimate system of sciences.

(2) The ultimate system of arts.

(3) The ultimate system of society.

Means and motives for ever striving after this great consummation.

Inauguration of the ultimate philosophy:

The time, the present age.

The scene, the Western Hemisphere.

The mode, the academic curriculum.

Scheme of academic study for its inauguration, based upon the foregoing project, and arranged with reference to the existing and prospective state of the sciences, as follows:

I. RATIONAL AND REVEALED ASTRONOMY.

Illustration by celestial mechanics of the Divine omnipotence, omnipresence, eternity, and immutability.

Antagonistic theories of cumulative forces and of successive creations in their bearing upon the Scripture doctrine of the origin and destiny of the material universe.

Astronomical miracles of Divine art.

Astronomical marvels of human art.