General Metaphysics

What is and why we need to understand Metaphysics? In appreciating the magnitude of the task before us, there are two opposite extremes to be avoided: one is to suppose that the notions with which we have to deal are so simple as to require no study and that they can be confused only by a preposterous attempt to force them into a long scientific system, such as a text-book on metaphysics displays; and the other is to imagine that the notions are so minute, so fluxional and evanescent, as to defy anything like fixity of signification. The fact is, the ideas are simple and carry along with their simplicity some of their greatest difficulties. As a man may have “the faults of his virtues" a study may have the difficulties of its ease. Nor does metaphysics stand alone in the enforcement of the lesson that it is hard to be simple and that there is much art in simplicity.