The Problem of Human Destiny: Or, The End of Providence in the World and Man

"No person, with any comprehension of what he is doing would publish a book on the Problem of Human Destiny, without wishing to put into the title of it, some such phrase as "humble attempt" at a solution of, or "approximation" thereto. Herder denominates his great work, "Ideen--Ideas, on the History of Humanity." I would hare entitled this Volume of Lectures, "Hints on the Problem of Human Destiny, " but that the word "hints" did not seem to befit a Course of Lectures. Nor could I very well, say, "Outlines of the Problem; " for the work does not pretend to be so much. In short, I do not see but I must let the title stand in its appalling nakedness and vastness; presuming that the reader will expect nothing on such a subject, but approximations, hints, and outlines. I would say, however, very explicitly, that here are no abstruse discussions, such as might be looked for, perhaps, from the title of this volume; that, as I was to address a popular audience, my discourse has been conformed to that intention; that I undertook to speak for those who were to hear me, and not for philosophers; and that all I attempted, was to offer for the consideration of my hearers, certain views of life, of the human condition, and of the scene of the world, that might help them better to understand their nature, lot, and destiny. I am sensible that I am putting forth this work at a time when the public mind is absorbed with questions, not of philosophy, but of awful fact; when we are pressed to solve, not the problem of the world, but the problem of our own national stability and honor. But although the first shock of the crisis seemed almost to unseat all our theories and thoughts of life, yet as the struggle has gone on, I confess that it has driven me, more and more, to the great principles and resorts of my faith in Providence and Humanity; and it has seemed to me, therefore, that the discussions proposed have some pertinence to the time"--Préface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).