This edition has again been thoroughly revised, and some new matter appended which bears on various points raised in the original volume, especially the establishment of the important group of the _Cycado-filices_, as affecting the succession of plant life on the earth, and recent evidence concerning the pedigree of the horse. _December_ 21, 1906. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGES TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING Certainty that there was a Beginning of the World--What was there before?--The Great Problem, to be answered by Reason and Science 1-3 CHAPTER II REASON AND SCIENCE Principles of Reasoning--Scope and method of Science 4-7 CHAPTER III EVOLUTION Term variously used for a Process and a Principle. We commence with the latter 8-9 CHAPTER IV "THE LAW OF EVOLUTION" Evolution as a Philosophy--Main features of the system 10-14 CHAPTER V WHAT IS A "LAW OF NATURE"? Erroneous use of the term frequent: its scientific use 15-19 CHAPTER VI "THE LAW OF SUBSTANCE" A combination of two other "Laws," viz.--The indestructibility of Matter, and the Conservation of Energy--But there is also Dissipation of Energy--Consequences inferred from this as to the Duration of the Universe 20-28 CHAPTER VII "THE SEVEN ENIGMAS" The "Law of Continuity"--Alleged breaches--Seven evolutionary stages deduced to be scientifically unexplained, or even inexplicable 29-34 CHAPTER VIII MATTER AND MOTION Constitution and Properties of Matter inconsistent with Haeckel's evolutionary system--Also the Laws of Motion--Radium and its revelations 35-44 CHAPTER IX THE PROBLEM OF LIFE Evolution here considered as a process--In its larger sense, postulates spontaneous generation--which, however, Science disallows--Protoplasm and Crystallization 45-66 CHAPTER X ANIMAL AND MAN Origin of simple sensation and consciousness even less explicable than that of life--Gulf between man and the lower animals--Language exclusively human--The significance of Free-will can be impugned only by the absurdity of denying its existence 67-85 CHAPTER XI THE ORDER OF NATURE The order of the _Cosmos_ requires a Cause--No cause known to us can produce such a result except Intelligence--Hence we infer Purpose or Design and are led to Theism--Scientific evidence as to this, "the Grand Question" 86-109 CHAPTER XII PURPOSE AND CHANCE What "Chance" means--It is the sole alternative to Purpose or Design--Arguments against Purposive Creation--The Existence of Pain--The Mysteries of Generation 110-125 CHAPTER XIII MONISM