
Transcriber’s Note:
A thoughtful guide to the age‑old question of what “reality” truly means, this work opens by mapping the puzzling contradictions that surface in everyday experience and in the sciences. The author draws a clear line between appearance and the underlying world, showing how even systematic inquiry can generate new dilemmas. By positioning metaphysics alongside poetry, religion, and the exact sciences, the text argues for a uniquely critical yet constructive method of philosophical investigation.
The early chapters trace the history of the problem, citing figures such as Bradley, Royce, and the emerging ideas of Russell and Couturat, while acknowledging the limits of any single school. Readers are invited to follow rigorous yet accessible arguments about infinite regress, Kantian antinomies, and the very nature of the metaphysical task. The style remains scholarly without sacrificing clarity, making it a valuable companion for anyone beginning a deeper exploration of philosophical thought.
Language
en
Duration
~19 hours (1138K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: Methuen, 1903.
Credits
Emmanuel Ackerman, KD Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-10-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1869–1945
A leading British idealist, he wrote with unusual clarity about Plato, Socrates, ethics, metaphysics, and religion. His books helped bring ancient philosophy to a wide modern readership while keeping close ties to big moral questions.
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