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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 78

Authors Note

page v

Authors Note

The following "Statement" has been compiled by the author as the result of a correspondence, extending over many months, with a fellow inquirer—R. W. Weeks—whose (tentative) metaphysical views are given as the First of the Two Theodicieas here compared.

The propositions in the second "Theodicy" given herein are often put in a dogmatic form in order to avoid the circumlocution of too frequent a use of such words as "probably," "possibly," "it would appear," &c. It has been hoped that the use, once for all, of the term "Speculations" in the heading would prevent misunderstanding on this point. Like those of Mr. Weeks', the author's views are to be understood as, in the main, tentative and provisional As a fact, the propositions he has laid down are entertained by him with very varying degrees of confidence. Such an onto Logical theorem as that all existence is necessarily psychic (the fundamental theorem of Berke-leyan Idealism) he holds as an indubitably proven fact, being assured indeed that the bare statement of any alternative view involves a misuse of language. In other words, he is certain that mentality is the summum genus of which all possible existences are the species. But he would not wish to be thought of as claiming an equal certitude for all the epistemological and theological theorems here enunciated.

F. W. Frankland.