474
INSTITUTES OF METAPHYSIC.
PROP. V.————
This proposition secures the key of the ontology.which we know or that which we are ignorant of, secures the key of the ontology, and renders her position impregnable. Her victory is now assured against whatever force may be brought against her. She has now but to put forth her hand to pluck the fruit of all her previous labours. Because the alternative characters of Absolute Existence having been reduced to two—in other words, Absolute Existence having been proved to be either that which we know or that which we are ignorant of, the system is able to deal with it and to declare what it is, whichever of the two alternatives be embraced. Should "Being in itself" be held to be that which we know, the result of the epistemology enables us to affix to it a predicate declaratory of its nature—for the epistemology has settled what alone it is possible for us to know. Should "Being in itself" be held to be that which we are ignorant of, the result of the agnoiology (which has been proved to be coincident with the result of the epistemology) enables us to affix to it the very same predicate declaratory of its nature. Thus the system makes good its point, and redeems its pledge (see Introduction, § 60), whichever horn of the dilemma be presented to it, as shall be shown articulately in Proposition X. Meanwhile a few articles must be introduced for the purpose of clearing away the wrecks of antecedent systems, and of giving the finishing-stroke to the car-
