This influential work of philosophy offers a penetrating critique of the prevailing intellectual trends and debates of the late 19th century. Hutton examines the major currents of thought of his time, including positivism, evolutionary theory, and socialism, and offers sharp criticisms of their shortcomings and limitations. He argues for a more humanistic and ethical approach to intellectual inquiry and lays the groundwork for a new synthesis of philosophy and culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.