much incoherency in their philosophy; it abounds in paradoxes. For
instance, it recognizes sense as the criterion and source of knowledge,
and asserts that reason is universal and knowable. Yet it asserts that
there is no rational element in sense that is universal. It confuses
individual human nature and universal nature, though its final result
was to unite both in one concept. The result of their entire
philosophy was to create confusion, although they had much influence on
the practical life.

The Sceptics doubted all knowledge obtained by the senses. There was
no criterion of truth in the intellect, consequently no knowledge. If
truth existed it was in conduct, and thus the judgment must be
suspended. They held that there was nothing that could be determined
of specific nature, nothing that could be of certainty. Eventually the
whole Greek philosophy went out in scepticism. The three schools, the
sceptic, the Epicurean, and the stoic, though widely differing in many
ways, agreed upon one thing, in basing their philosophy on
subjectivity, on mind rather than on objective nature.

_Results Obtained in Greek Philosophy_.--The philosophical conclusions
aimed at by the Greeks related to the origin and destiny of the world.
The world is an emanation from God, {226} and in due time it will
return to Him. It may be considered as a part of the substance of God,
or it may be considered as something objective proceeding from him.
The visible world around us becomes thus but an expression of the God
mind. But as it came forth a thing of beauty, so it will return again
to Him after its mission is fulfilled. On the existence and attributes
of God the Greeks dwelt with great force. There is established first a
unity of God, and this unity is the first cause in the creation. To
what extent this unity is independent and separate in existence from
nature, is left in great doubt. It was held that God is present
everywhere in nature, though His being is not limited by time or space.
Much of the philosophy bordered upon, if it did not openly avow, a
belief in pantheism. The highest conception recognizes design in
creation, which would give an individual existence to the Creator. Yet
the most acute mind did not depart from the assumption of the idea of
an all-pervading being of God extending throughout the universe,
mingling with nature and to a certain extent inseparable from it. In
their highest conception the most