Preface The present work was written in 1977 for the Ph.D. degree of the University of Jabalpur, Jabalpur. While sending it to the press in 1979 much as I wished. to improve it, I soon discovered that any attempt at improvement today would only mean rewriting it altogether. I have, therefore, left it untouched. There is no gainsaying that idealism has been the dominant trend and a powerful movement both in India and in the West. In the long perspective of its history, it assumed different forms suiting to the philosophical needs of the ages. In the field of contemporary philosophy, Josiah Royce and Radha-krishnan are the two outstanding representatives of idealism. They can safely be acclaimed as the stalwarts of Absolute Idealism. Hence an attempt has been made in the present work to have a comparative evaluation of their philosophies. In the present age when efforts are afoot to have a better understanding of the different and divergent viewpoints so that deeper human element may not be neglected, it is not only inevitable but also, to some extent, desirable that such attempts be undertaken. We cannot be indifferent to the significant contribution made by Royce and Radhakrishnan in presenting Absolute Idealism with a new vigour and scientific outlook. We have tried to find out the common platform on which they can meet and in this respect some striking similarities between the two on important problems have been spotlighted. But similarities when stretched too far often break down. As such the differences in their outlook and approach have also been equally dealt with and discussed critically.