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the universe began with atoms-infinite and eternal moved by the will of the divine power. Thus as Gautam, the author of Nyaya built up the metaphysics, Kanada the author of Vaisheshika supplied the physics of a philosophy which generally goes under the name of Dialectic philosophy. A philosophy built upon mere abstractions and generalizations from phenomena, which can in reality never be individually generalized from, must result in pure anthropomorphic Deism. Principal Caird
atheism or
Generalization,
says in his philosophy of realigion. so far from apprehending reality is a process which takes us away from it, and the further it advances, the more abstract our thought becomes, the further do we recede from the real objective truth of things." If the Nyaya and Vaisheshika thus represent the positive side of the method of abstract generalization, the Charvakas the materialists represent the negative aspect. They were not far from the modern materialists when they maintained life, thought or energy to be the result of material organization, but their philosophy made few disciples and converted none. All experience is in favour of declaring that dead matter is never capable of producing life and even the best representatives of modern physical sience stand confessed of their ignorance of the real nature of matter and energy per se, at the altar" of eternal truth. Even Mr, Huxley says, In perfect strictness it is true that chemical investigation can tell us little
4.6
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