The Metaphysical Foundation of Buddhism and Modern Science
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Philosophy is the ascent to the generalities with the view <strong>of</strong><br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ing their possibilities <strong>of</strong> combination. <strong>The</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> new<br />
generalities thus adds to the fruitfulness <strong>of</strong> those already known. It lifts<br />
into view new possibilities <strong>of</strong> combination.<br />
Section XV. Even the dim apprehension <strong>of</strong> some great principle is apt to<br />
clothe itself with tremendous emotional force. <strong>The</strong> welter <strong>of</strong> particular<br />
actions arising out <strong>of</strong> such complex feelings with their core <strong>of</strong> deep<br />
intuition are in primitive times <strong>of</strong>ten brutish <strong>and</strong> nasty. Finally civilized<br />
language provides a whole group <strong>of</strong> words, each embodying the general<br />
idea under its own specialization. If we desire to reach the generality<br />
common to these various specializations, we must gather together the<br />
whole group <strong>of</strong> words with the hope <strong>of</strong> discerning their common element.<br />
This is a necessary procedure for the purpose <strong>of</strong> philosophical<br />
generalization. <strong>The</strong> premature use <strong>of</strong> one familiar word inevitably limits<br />
the required generalization by importing the familiar special connotation<br />
<strong>of</strong> that word.<br />
For example, [Cf. Process <strong>and</strong> Reality passim, where the second <strong>of</strong> the<br />
doctrines stated below is developed.] let the working hypothesis be that<br />
the ultimate realities are the events in their process <strong>of</strong> origination. <strong>The</strong>n<br />
each event, viewed in its separate individuality, is a passage between two<br />
ideal termini, namely, its components in their ideal disjunctive diversity<br />
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