Page:An introduction to philosophy (IA introductiontoph00flet).pdf/34

10 material shall be carefully classified, and that the items shall be set in an orderly relation to each other and to the whole. If we would know the significance of any organ of the body, we must study it in its relation to the other organs and to the body as a whole. To get a true conception of the meaning of a finger, it must be studied in its relation to the other fingers, to the hand, and to the arm. In fact, we need to discern its part in making the hand an efficient instrument and in conserving life. It is not sufficient that the conclusions of philosophic study shall be organized into a system; but it is antecedently necessary that our material shall be organized, each part being set in right relation to the others and to the whole; for only thus can we perceive what each item signifies.

Summary: The task of Philosophy is to discover the essential nature of all that is and to give a systematic statement of its findings. In order to this, it is required to furnish a systematic and reasoned justification of its findings and of the course of thought by which it attains these conclusions. All human experience is philosophic material. The critical use of this material calls for a judicious classification and evaluation of the material, and for the careful and exact relating of the various particulars to each other and to the whole. The real significance of an experiential fact can only be discovered when it is studied in its relations.