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Man and the Cosmos - An introduction to Metaphysics.

This book serves as an introductory guide to metaphysics, examining the nature of reality, existence, and the relationship between humanity and the universe. more

Author

Joseph Alexander Leighton

Joseph Alexander Leighton (1870-1954) was a British author known for his historical novels and biographies. His works are characterized by deep insight and rich imagination, which have won him a wide readership. more

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“This is the very heart of true morality--not to struggle, not to fight with any weapons, for one's self alone--but to struggle and to fight for the common interest, to wield the power of brain and good right arm if need be for one's family, for the ordered community of life, for the state, for moral principles, humanity, and the common good.”

IfsNeedsHeartSelfStatesHumanityFightingInterestCommunityCommonBrainMoralPrinciplesStruggleArmsMoralityWeaponsCommon GoodMoral PrinciplesCommon Interests
Author:Joseph Alexander Leighton
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“If the spiritual values of human existence at its highest term of development and achievement do not endure, amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal universe, there seems to be no stable or coherent meaning in existence. Then the universe is irrational--indeed it is no universe at all.”

IfsHumansSeemsSpiritualValuesUniverseTermChanceExistenceDevelopmentAchievementHighestEndureMortalsStableIrrationalHuman ExistenceSpiritual Values
Book:Man and the Cosmos - An introduction to Metaphysics.
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“Immediate knowledge tells us only that God is, not what he is. But if God is not an empty Being beyond the stars, he must be present in the communion of human spirits, and, in his relation to these, he is the One Spirit who pervades reality and thought. Hence there can be no final separation between our immediate consciousness of him and our mediated knowledge of reality.”

IfsHumansRealitySpiritStarsConsciousnessEmptyRelationFinalsSeparationCommunionHuman SpiritBeyond The Stars
Book:Typical Modern Conceptions of God: Or, The Absolute of German Romantic Idealism and of English Evolutionary Agnosticism, with a Constructive Essay
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“A system of philosophy, or metaphysics, is a union of a world view and a life view in one harmonious, complete, integral conception. In so far as any man strives to attain, by rational inquiry, a consistent and comprehensive view of life and reality, he is a metaphysician.”

MenWorldPhilosophyRealityViewsUnionsStriveRationalConsistentConceptionMetaphysicsStrifeInquiryComprehensiveHarmoniousWorld View
Book:Man and the Cosmos - An introduction to Metaphysics.
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“Faith in the continuance and enhancement of the intrinsic values--faith in truth, in beauty, in friendship, in love and harmony of life--in short, faith in reason and the worth of spiritual life--such faith is only another name for faith in the persistence of spiritual individuality. For, I repeat, these values are real only as functions of personal experience and deed. To have faith in the permanence of intrinsic values is to assume the enduring reality of selves who know truth, feel beauty, who love and win spiritual harmony.”

KnowsFeelsRealSelfReasonRealitySpiritualValuesWinningNamesFunctionHarmonyAssumingEndureIndividualityDeedsPersistenceRepeatsHave FaithSpiritual LifePersonal ExperiencesPermanenceIntrinsic ValueEnhancementContinuance
Author:Joseph Alexander Leighton
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“Human progress is not an uninterrupted march forward. It is a slow and devious movement with haltings and twistings. The pathway of man ascends and descends, wanders off into mazes. At times the trail seems to lose itself in the wilderness of human passion and folly. But inch by inch it goes forward with halting steps.”

MenHumansSeemsPassionLosesStepsProgressMovementWanderFollyWildernessMarchInchesTrailsPathwaysMazesHuman ProgressDevious
Author:Joseph Alexander Leighton
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“Today one might be tempted to say that patriotism is the last refuge of the tribal religion dedicated to the worship of German, French, English and Russian Gods of Battles. Surely such a religion has nothing in common with the religion which counsels for the disciple non-resistance, unstinted forgiveness, and the elimination of all rancor?”

MightTodayLastsCommonBattleWorshipResistanceDedicatedRefugeDiscipleTemptedEliminationRancor
Author:Joseph Alexander Leighton
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