Research without ever arriving at the sure possession of the truth, this is now the meaning of science, especially of philosophy. Hence there cannot be a philosophy conclusive and immutable, and any point which seems established may at any time be revised according to new perceptions. “There is no question that may not be asked; none which in the abstract could not just as well be denied as affirmed. In this sense philosophy is unprepossessed” (_Paulsen_, Die deutschen Universitaeten, 1902, 304 _seq._). The highest achievement it declares itself capable of, is not to point out the truth to its disciples, for it does not know the truth itself, but only this: “We expect, or at least we should expect, that during the years of study the mind give itself earnestly to philosophy, and strive for a firm grasp of ideas. The great pathfinders in world thought, _Plato_, _Aristotle_, _Spinoza_, _Kant_, and whoever may be ranked with them, remain the living teachers of philosophy.” Thus we hold those great intellectual achievements, _Plato’s_ doctrine and ideas, _Spinoza’s_ atheistic pantheism, _Aristotle’s_ objectivism and _Kant’s_ subjectivism, with other views of the world of most variegated patterns, all contradicting and excluding one another, all dubious, none sure. What would be said of an astronomy that could do nothing better than fix the telescope on the different stars and then tell its disciples: Now look for what you please, ideas of _Ptolemy_ or _Copernicus_; _Aristotle’s_ theory of the spheres or _Newton’s_ theory of gravity; each has its points, but of none can it be said it is certain! Such an astronomy would probably be left to its deserved fate. In the most important points of religion mankind has ever, even in pagan times, recognized the truth, albeit imperfectly. This is evinced by the conviction that there exists a personal God and a hereafter; convictions which can be proved historically. God’s revelation has provided those who desire to believe with a fuller knowledge of the truth: heaven and earth will pass away, but these words will not pass away. But what is already in our safe possession cannot be once more discovered by research. What has already been found is no longer an object of research. Mankind’s lot would be a sad one indeed were this unprepossessed science in the right; if in the most important questions of life it were condemned forever to tantalizing doubt. God’s providence has ordained matters more kindly for humanity.