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Six Lectures of Hints toward a Theory of the Universe

Spring 1890

Houghton Library

Lecture I. Right reasoning in philosophy is only possible if grounded on a sound theory of logic.

Fruitful thinking and experimentation are only two branches of one process. They are essentially one. Thinking is experimentation; its results as startling, as inexplicable. Experimentation is thinking.

The law of the development of fruitful conceptions, made out from the history of science. A genuine development.

The nature of assurance. Induction & Hypothesis.

Lecture II. The ideas of philosophy must be drawn from logic, as Kant draws his categories. For so far as anything intelligible and reasonable can be found in the universe, so far the process of nature and the process of thought are at one.

What are the fundamental conceptions of logic? First, Second, Third. Explanation and illustrations.

Chance, Law, and Continuity must be the great elements in the explanation of the universe.

Lecture III. Critical survey of mental development in the last three centuries, and the ideas of today.

The social situation. Its philosophical suggestions.

The present conception of mathematics. The axioms exploded. Consequences for philosophy.

The present state of molecular physics. Unpromising forecast. Our only hope is in a natural history of laws and forces.

Modern psychology. Its lessons for philosophy.

Lecture IV. The mathematical infinite and absolute. Their relations to philosophy.

Mathematical “imaginaries.” Cauchy’s view.

Infinity; Cantor’s views partly accepted, partly rejected.

Modern geometry; elementary explanation.

Non-Euclidean geometry and the absolute.

Theory of the absolute by Klein.

Application of these ideas to philosophy; Epicureanism, Pessimism, Evolutionism.

Lecture V. Cartesian dualism, examined & rejected. Three systems remain: Materialism, monism, idealism. The absurdity of materialism. Monism consistently carried out would reduce itself to absurdity; but practically it is but a modification of materialism. Idealism, reasonable. Matter is effete mind.

The controversy concerning Darwinian and Lamarckian evolution. Abstract statement of Darwinianism, so as to show its applicability wherever there is evolution of any kind. Abstract statement of Lamarckianism; its harmony with idealism. Is any third mode of evolution conceivable?

Lecture VI. The ideal beginning of things. The law of assimilation, and the breaking up of law.

The development of time.

The development of space, energy, inertia, etc.

Gravitation and molecular force.

The chemical elements.

Protoplasm.

The development of Consciousness, individual, social, macrocosmic.

The ideal end of things.