------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Note: This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. Superscripted characters are prefix with ‘^’. Footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are referenced. Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. _Elements of Metaphysics_ ======== A. E. TAYLOR _Late Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh_ πατρὶς δὴ ἡμῖν ὅθενπερ ἤλθομεν καὶ πατὴρ ἐκεῖ UNIVERSITY PAPERBACKS ------------------------------------ METHUEN : LONDON First published by Methuen & Co Ltd in 1903 Printed in Great Britain by Morrison & Gibb Ltd, Edinburgh Catalogue No 2/6775/27 _University Paperbacks are published by_ METHUEN & CO LTD _36 Essex Street, Strand, London WC2 and_ BARNES & NOBLE INC _105 Fifth Avenue, New York 3_ TO F. H. BRADLEY _In heartfelt acknowledgment of all that his example and his writings have been to the men of my generation_ Ante Ararim Parthus bibet, aut Germania Tigrim, Quam nostro illius labatur pectore vultus. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ELEMENTS OF METAPHYSICS PREFACE In acknowledging my indebtedness to recent writers for many of the ideas contained in the following pages, I have in the first place to express my deep and constant obligations to the various works of Mr. F. H. Bradley. My chief debt to other recent English-speaking philosophers is to Professor Royce and Professor Ward, and I am perhaps scarcely less indebted to Professor Stout. My chief obligations to Continental writers are to Avenarius and to Professor Münsterberg. I trust, however, that there is not one of the authors with whose views I have dealt in the course of my work from whom I have not learned something. At the same time I ought perhaps to say here once for all that I make no claim to represent the views of any one author or school, and I shall not be surprised if the thinkers to whom I owe most find themselves unable to endorse all that I have written.