First and Last Things

The Project Gutenberg EBook of First and Last Things, by H. G. Wells This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: First and Last Things Author: H. G. Wells Release Date: December 23, 2009 [EBook #4225] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRST AND LAST THINGS *** Produced by Rebecca Trump, Sue Asscher, and David Widger FIRST AND LAST THINGS A CONFESSION OF FAITH AND RULE OF LIFE By H.G. Wells Contents INTRODUCTION. BOOK THE FIRST. — METAPHYSICS. 1.1. THE NECESSITY FOR METAPHYSICS. 1.2. THE RESUMPTION OF METAPHYSICAL ENQUIRY. 1.3. THE WORLD OF FACT. 1.4. SCEPTICISM OF THE INSTRUMENT. 1.5. THE CLASSIFICATORY ASSUMPTION. 1.6. EMPTY TERMS. 1.7. NEGATIVE TERMS. 1.8. LOGIC STATIC AND LIFE KINETIC. 1.9. PLANES AND DIALECTS OF THOUGHT. 1.10. PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THESE CONSIDERATIONS. 1.11. BELIEFS. 1.12. SUMMARY. BOOK THE SECOND — OF BELIEFS 2.1. MY PRIMARY ACT OF FAITH. 2.2. ON USING THE NAME OF GOD. 2.3. FREE WILL AND PREDESTINATION. 2.4. A PICTURE OF THE WORLD OF MEN. 2.5. THE PROBLEM OF MOTIVES THE REAL PROBLEM OF LIFE. 2.6. A REVIEW OF MOTIVES. 2.7. THE SYNTHETIC MOTIVE. 2.8. THE BEING OF MANKIND. 2.9. INDIVIDUALITY AN INTERLUDE. 2.10. THE MYSTIC ELEMENT. 2.11. THE SYNTHESIS. 2.12. OF PERSONAL IMMORTALITY. 2.13.