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. A CRITICISM OF CHRISTIANITY.

2.14. OF OTHER RELIGIONS.

2.15.

BOOK THE THIRD — OF GENERAL CONDUCT

3.1. CONDUCT FOLLOWS FROM BELIEF.

3.2. WHAT IS GOOD?

3.3. SOCIALISM.

3.4. A CRITICISM OF CERTAIN FORMS OF SOCIALISM.

3.5. HATE AND LOVE.

3.6. THE PRELIMINARY SOCIAL DUTY.

3.7. WRONG WAYS OF LIVING.

3.8. SOCIAL PARASITISM AND CONTEMPORARY INJUSTICES.