Page:Ferrier's Works Volume 1 - Institutes of Metaphysic (1875 ed.).djvu/566

538 this synthesis can be known. The contradictions corrected in the ontology have now to be considered.

22. Natural thinking has an ontology of its own. It asserts the absolute existence of material things per se, if not, also, the absolute existence of immaterial minds per se. Psychology is less consistent. At times it makes common cause with ordinary thinking, and adopts and confirms "the science of Being," which it receives at the hand; and on the authority, of popular belief. It contends for the absolute existence of matter by itself, and of mind by itself. Then again it vacillates, and declares that there can be no science of that which absolutely exists—grounding its denial on our alleged ignorance of "Being in itself?'

23. To correct the contradictions contained in these opinions, whether natural or psychological, the first step which this section of the science takes is to determine exhaustively the characters of absolute existence, (Prop. I., Ontol.) The next step which it takes is to eliminate or clear off one of the alternatives; and the conclusion reached is, that Absolute Existence is either that which we know, or that which we are ignorant of. This operation occupies the ontology from Proposition II. to Proposition V. inclusive.