Prelude: Looking the world frankly in the face

Part I: A universal science. Strange prisoners ; From generalities to particulars ; The bounds of human empire ; The restless desire of power ; The empty cabinet ; Passion's slave ; Experiments of living ; Embryo Englands ; Robbing the gods ; Some hard problems ; A satisfied pig ; How little has been done

Interlude: The refuge of art

Part II: Absolute reality. The intellectual love of God ; Consult the inner light ; Denying knowledge to make room for faith ; The artist forming the work ; Man is something that should be overcome ; In the face of nothing ; A total absence of hope ; Among the ironists ; The way out of the bottle

Postlude: The man who needs infinite help.