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TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE 09
AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION 19
INTRODUCTION 21
PROLEGOMENA 59
GOD 63
God and infinity 63
Proofs of the existence of God 64
Attributes of the Divinity 65
Pantheism 66
GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE 68
Knowledge of the first principles of things 68
Spirit and matter 69
Properties of matter 71
Universal space 72
CREATION 74
Formation of worlds 74
Production of living beings 75
Peopling of the earth : Adam 76
Diversity of human races 77
Plurality of worlds 77
The Biblical account of the creation 78
THE VITAL PRINCIPLE 83
Organic and Inorganic beings 83
Life and death 84
Intelligence and instinct 86
SPIRITS 88
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Origin and nature of spirits 88
Primitive and normal world 90
Form and ubiquity of spirits 90
Perispirit 92
Different orders of spirits 92
Spirit-hierarchy 93
Progression of Spirits 101
Angels and demons 105
INCARNATION OF SPIRITS 107
Aim of Incarnation 107
The soul 108
Materialism 112
RETURN FROM CORPOREAL TO THE SPIRIT-LIFE 114
The soul after death 114
Separation of soul and body 115
Temporarily confused state of the soul after death 118
PLURALITY OF EXISTIENCES 120
Reincarnation 120
Justice of reincarnation 121
Incarnation in different worlds 122
Progressive transmigrations 126
Fate of children after death 129
Sex In spirits 131
Relationship-Filiation 131
Physical and moral likeness 132
Innate Ideas 135
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE PLURALITY OF EXISTENCES 138
SPIRIT-LIFE 149
Errant or wandering spirits 149
Transitional worlds 152
Perceptions, sensations, and sufferings of spirits 153
Theoretic explanation of the nature of sensation in spirits 157
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Choice of earthly trials 163
Relationships beyond the grave 170
Sympathies and antipathies of spirits-Eternal halves 173
Remembrance of corporeal existence 176
Commemoration of the dead-Funerals 180
RETURN TO CORPOREAL LIFE 183
Preludes to return 183
Union of soul and body-Abortion 185
Moral and Intellectual faculties of mankind 189
Influence of organism 190
Idiocy and madness 192
Infancy 194
Terrestrial sympathies and antipathies 197
Forgetfulness of the past 199
EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL 204
Sleep and dreams 204
Visits between the spirits of living persons 209
Occult transmission of thought 211
Lethargy - Catalepsy-Apparent death 211
Somnambulism 212
Trance 216
Second-sight 217
Explanation of somnambulism, trance, and second-sight 219
INTERVENTION OF SPIRITS IN THE CORPOREAL WORLD 225
Penetration of our thoughts by spirits 225
Occult influence of spirits on our thoughts and actions 226
Possession 229
Convulsionaries 231
Affection of certain spirits for certain persons 232
Guardian-angels-Protecting, familiar, and sympathetic spirits 233
Presentiments 242
Influence of spirits on the events of human life 242
Action of spirits In the production of the phenomena of nature 246
Spirits during battle 248
Pacts with spirits 250
Occult power-Talismans-Sorcerers 251
Benedictions and curses 253
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OCCUPATIONS AND MISSIONS OF SPIRITS 254
THE THREE REIGNS 261
Minerals and plants 261
Animals and men 262
Metempsychosis 269
MORAL LAWS 270
Divine or natural law 270
Characteristics of natural law 270
Knowledge of natural law 272
Good and evil 274
Division of natural law 278
I. THE LAW OF ADORATION 280
Aim of adoration 280
External acts of adoration 280
Life of contemplation 282
Prayer 282
Polytheism 285
Sacrifices 287
II. THE LAW OF LABOUR 290
Necessity of labour 290
Limit of labour-Rest 291
III. THE LAW OF REPRODUCTION 293
Population of the globe 293
Succession and Improvement of races 293
Obstacles to reproduction 294
Marriage and celibacy 295
Polygamy 298
IV. THE LAW OF PRESERVATION 297
Instinct of self-preservation 297
Means of self-preservation 297
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Enjoyment of the fruits of the earth 299
Necessaries and superfluities 300
Voluntary privations -Mortifications 301
V. THE LAW OF DESTRUCTION 304
Necessary destruction and unjustifiable destruction 304
Destructive calamities 306
War 308
Murder 309
Cruelty 309
Duelling 311
Capital punishment 311
VI. SOCIAL LAW 314
Necessity of social life 314
Life of isolation 314
Family ties 315
VII. THE LAW OF PROGRESS 317
State of nature 317
March of progress 318
Degenerate peoples 320
Civilisatlon 322
Progress of human legislation 323
Influence of spiritism on progress 324
VIII. THE LAW OF EQUALITY 327
Natural equality 327
Inequality of aptitudes 327
Social inequalities 328
Inequality of riches 328
Trials of riches and of poverty 330
Equality of rights of men and women 331
Equality In death 332
IX. THE LAW OF LIBERTY 333
Natural liberty 333
Slavery 334
Freedom of thought 335
Freedom of conscience 335
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Free-will 336
Fatality 338
Foreknowledge 343
Theoretic summary of the springs of human action 345
X. THE LAW OF JUSTICE, OF LOVE, AND OF CHARITY 349
Natural rights and justice 349
Right of Property-Robbery 351
Charity-Love of the neighbour 352
Maternal and filial affection 354
MORAL PERFECTION 356
Virtues and vices 356
The passions 361
Selfishness 362
Characteristics of the virtuous man 365
Self-knowledge 365
Earthly joys and Sorrows 363
Happiness and unhappiness 368
Loss of those we love 373
Disappointments-Ingratitude-Blighted affections 374
Antipathetic unions 375
Fear of death 376
Weariness of Life-Suicide 377
Future joys and sorrows 383
Annihilation-Future life 383
Intuition of future joys and sorrows 383
Intervention of God in rewards and punishments 384
Nature of future joys and sorrows 385
Temporal sorrows 391
Expiation and repentance 394
Duration of future penalties 397
Resurrection of the body 403
Paradise-Hell-Purgatory-Original sin 404
CONCLUSION 409