through their perception of approaching danger. Man, on the contrary, knows of the existence of death and what it means. He looks back on his past life and wonders what the future may hold in store, and realises, infinitely more than animals realise it, the dangers that threaten him. During this phase, man does all in his power to keep death at bay, and to make his life as happy as possible. This, however, is not the last stage of his development. The thinking man soon comes to the conclusion that a craving for life is not the true aim of the universe; it is only the means for attaining to a knowledge of the definite aim of existence, which is the cessation of life. Philosophy soon shows that perfect happiness is not possible, and that only death is really desirable. In summing up the cosmic process, the conclusion arrived at is “that throughout the universe the desire of death exists in a form more or less masked, but that in the organic world this assumes the form of a will to live.”[243] In the end, however, the desire of death becomes more and more plain, until the philosopher can see “in the whole universe nothing but a longing for absolute extinction, and fancies that he can hear the cry rolling from star to star, ‘Deliverance, deliverance, death to our life!’ and the echoing cry of consolation, ‘Extinction and deliverance await you all!’”[244] In order to explain in a clearer way the progress of this evolution, Mailaender describes the state of mind of a man who develops the will to die, and commits suicide. “At first he glances anxiously and from afar at death, and shrinks from it with horror. Later, he draws nearer and walks round it in wide circles. Day by day, however, these circles become smaller, until finally he embraces Death with weary arms and looks it straight in the face. Then Peace comes; gentle Peace!”[245] It is absurd to expect anything to follow death but absolute annihilation, and the ordinary man faces this prospect with terror. “But it is essential,” says Mailaender, “that man should dominate the universe by knowledge, and wise men look forward to total annihilation with joy.”[246] “In relinquishing Schopenhauer’s will to live,” concluded Mailaender, “I have finally arrived at the will to die. I have raised myself upon the shoulders of Schopenhauer, until I have attained a point of view such as others have never accomplished. At present I am alone, but behind me all humanity is pressing on to freedom; and before me is the clear translucent vista of the future.”[247]