CHAPTER XVIII, section 71.  The teacher might very profitably take extracts from the two chapters of Whewell’s “Elements of Morality” referred to in the text, and read them with the class.  It is significant of the weakness of Whewell’s position that he can give us advice as long as we do not need it, but, when we come to the cross-roads, he is compelled to leave the matter to the individual conscience, and gives us no hint of a general principle that may guide us.

Section 72.  Wundt, in his volume “The Facts of the Moral Life” (N.Y., 1897), tries to develop an empirical science of ethics independent of metaphysics; see the Preface.

Compare with this:  Martineau’s “Types of Ethical Theory” (London, 1885), Preface; T. H. Green’s “Prolegomena to Ethics,” Introduction; Muirhead’s “The Elements of Ethics” (N.Y., 1892); Mackenzie’s “A Manual of Ethics” (London, 1893); Jodl’s “Gesduchte der Ethik” (Stuttgart, 1882), Preface.  I give but a few references, but they will serve to illustrate how close, in the opinion of ethical writers, is the relation between ethics and philosophy.

CHAPTER XIX, section 74.  The student who turns over the pages of several works on metaphysics may be misled by a certain superficial similarity that is apt to obtain among them.  One sees the field mapped out into Ontology (the science of Being or Reality), Rational Cosmology, and Rational Psychology.  These titles are mediaeval landmarks which have been left standing.  I may as well warn the reader that two men who discourse of Ontology may not be talking about the same thing at all.  Bear in mind what was said in section 57 of the different ways of conceiving the “One Substance”; and bear in mind also what was said in Chapter V of the proper meaning of the word “reality.”

I have discarded the above titles in my “System of Metaphysics,” because I think it is better and less misleading to use plain and unambiguous language.

Section 75.  See the note to Chapter XVI.

CHAPTER XX, sections 76-77.  One can get an idea of the problems with which the philosophy of religion has to deal by turning to my “System of Metaphysics” and reading the two chapters entitled “Of God,” at the close of the book.  It would be interesting to read and criticise in class some of the theistic arguments that philosophers have brought forward.  Quotations and references are given in Chapter XXXIV.

CHAPTER XXI, sections 78-79.  What is said of the science of logic, in Chapter XVI, has, of course, a bearing upon these sections.  I suggest that the student examine a few chapters of “The Grammar of Science”; the book is very readable.

CHAPTER XXII, sections 80-82.  The reader will find in lectures I and II in Sir William Hamilton’s “Lectures on Metaphysics” a discussion of the utility of philosophy.  It has a pleasant, old-fashioned flavor, and contains some good thoughts.  What is said in Chapters XVI-XXI of the present volume has a good deal of bearing upon the subject.  See especially what is said in the chapters on logic, ethics, and the philosophy of religion.