'The world is one,' therefore, just so far as we experience it to be
concatenated, one by as many definite conjunctions as appear. But
then also NOT one by just as many definite DISjunctions as we find.
The oneness and the manyness of it thus obtain in respects which can
be separately named. It is neither a universe pure and simple nor a
multiverse pure and simple. And its various manners of being one
suggest, for their accurate ascertainment, so many distinct programs
of scientific work. Thus the pragmatic question 'What is the oneness
known-as? What practical difference will it make?' saves us from all
feverish excitement over it as a principle of sublimity and carries
us forward into the stream of experience with a cool head. The
stream may indeed reveal far more connexion and union than we now
suspect, but we are not entitled on pragmatic principles to claim
absolute oneness in any respect in advance.
It is so difficult to see definitely what absolute oneness can mean,
that probably the majority of you are satisfied with the sober
attitude which we have reached. Nevertheless there are possibly some
radically monistic souls among you who are not content to leave the
one and the many on a par.
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