The one foundation for ethics is pessimism, for no other view of life recognizes that evil necessarily belongs to existence and can cease only with existence itself. The essential feature of the morality built upon this basis is the realization that all is one and that, while every attempt to gain happiness is illusory, yet before deliverance is possible, all forms of the illusion must appear and be tried to the utmost. Even he who recognizes the vanity of life best serves the highest aims by giving himself up to the illusion, and living as eagerly as if he thought life good. It is only through the constant at tempt to gain happiness that men can learn the desirability of nothingness; and when this knowledge has become universal, or at least general, deliverance will come and the world will cease. No better proof of the rational nature of the universe is needed than that af forded by the different ways in which men have hoped to find happiness and so have been led unconsciously to work for the final goal. The first of these is the hope of good in the present, the confidence in the pleasures of this world, such as was felt by the Greeks. This is fol lowed by the Christian transference of happi ness to another and better life, to which in turn succeeds the illusion that looks for happiness in progress, and dreams of a future made worth while by the achievements of science. All alike
are empty promises, and known as such in the final stage, which sees all human desires as equally vain and the only good in the peace of Nirvana.
The relation between philosophy and religion lies in their common recognition of an underly ing unity, which transcends all the apparent differences and divisions due to individual phe nomena. Many changes must take place in the existing religions before they will be suited to modern conditions, and the resulting religion of the future will be a concrete monism.
The Philosophy of the Unconscious has been the subject of many different estimates, but is regarded as having less intrinsic than historical value. Its influence upon other thinkers was especially marked during the years following its first appearance, but at present that influence has much decreased.
Bibliography.— Drews, von Hart mann's Philosophic und der Materialismus in der Modern Kultur' (Leipzig 1890) ; id., (E. von Hartmann's Philosophisches System' • Schneidewin, 'Lichtstrahlen aus douar'd von Hartmanns sanuntlichen Wer ken' ; Koeber, philosophische System Eduard von Hartmanns' ; Plumacher, (Der Kampf ums Unbewusste' (2d ed., Leipzig 1890) ; Sully, (Pessimism' (London 1891). Consult also Erdmann, 'History of Philosophy,' and Falckenberg, 'History of Modern Phi losophy.'