subjects. However that may be, the attempt to describe organic life in purely physical terms invariably leaves an inexplicable residue of spontaneity, whereas its explanation in terms of individuals differing only in degree from ourselves, is enabled to take the latter fully into account. The pluralistic hypothesis is therefore to that extent justified.
Inorganic matter may be treated by a similar, but somewhat modified, theory. It is analogous to organic species which have become stationary at some period of their evolution. It approaches the lower limit of development. It may be regarded as comprising individuals of an extremely low order of mentality, who therefore exhibit the minimum of spontaneity and the maximum of habit in their reactions. They are thus particularly susceptible of an almost complete description in general terms. It may be concluded that wherever the category of end or purpose can be successfully applied, so also may the pluralistic hypothesis be applied to the same extent; for the existence of purpose implies the presence of mind, that is, of subjects of experience. We have seen that pluralism is in this way applicable not only to the ground of what we term the organic activity observed in the object of experience, but also (with certain modifications which yet conform to the necessary conditions required by an explanation in terms of mind) to the ground of inorganic activity. The whole field of experience may therefore be covered by pluralism; though we are here concerned, not with the details of the application of that hypothesis, but only with its basis.
IX. Summary and Conclusion.—We may end our examination of the two most important tendencies in the trend of modern philosophic thought, by summarizing the results to which we have been led. In this way, the scope and limitations of each school of thought, and the results which each may hope to obtain, will be set out concisely and in brief compass.
The scientific method, as expounded by philosophers of the new realist type, is embodied in an analysis of the object of experience, with a view to ascertaining the form of the facts concerned. With the particular content of any set of facts it is
