However much the Prophet sought for knowledge, even from books, in his later life, the fact remains that the evidence in our possession indicates that, up to the time of the organization of the Church, his book learning was very slight, and that during the years immediately following, his time was so fully occupied with the details of the organization that little or no time was given to education, as ordinarily understood. These statements are of especial importance, in view of the fact that all the principles discussed in this volume were enunciated before the end of the year 1833. [Sidenote: Though the Prophet had little book learning, the spiritual and intellectual growth was great.] The associates of the Prophet are unanimous in saying that his spiritual and intellectual growth was marvelous, from the time that the work of the ministry fell upon him. He was transformed from a humble country lad to a leader among men, whose greatness was felt by all, whether unlearned or educated, small or great. Of himself the Prophet said, "I am a rough stone. The sound of the hammer and chisel was never heard on me until the Lord took me in hand. I desire the learning and wisdom of heaven alone." Certainly, his whole history shows that the great learning which he did manifest was acquired in a manner very different from that followed by the majority of men. A SUMMARY RESTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. Chapter XIX. [Sidenote: Philosophy and its methods.] In its broadest sense, philosophy includes all that man may know of the universe--of himself and of the things about him. To be worthy of its name, a system of philosophy must possess certain comprehensive, fundamental principles, which if clearly understood, make intelligible to the human mind any or all of the phenomena in the universe. The simpler these foundation principles are, the greater is the system as a philosophy. In the words of Spencer, "Philosophy is knowledge of the highest degree of generality," or "completely unified knowledge."[A] [Footnote A: First Principles, pp. 133 and 136.] It is to be observed, that the great laws of nature are inferred only from a number of lesser laws that have been gathered by man. A generalization which is not built upon numerous confirmatory observations, is at best an uncertain guess, which can be accepted only when demonstrated to be correct by numerous isolated experiences. The rational philosopher proceeds from the many to the few; he groups and groups again, until the wide, fundamental laws have been attained. In olden days, and at times today, this method was not pursued. A philosopher, so called, would assume that a certain statement or idea were true. Upon this idea an elaborate, speculative, philosophical superstructure was reared. If by chance, and the chance usually came, the fundamental notion were shown to be false, the whole system fell with a crash into the domain of untruth.