Full Idea
It would seem that knowledge concerning the universe as a whole is not to be obtained by metaphysics.
Gist of Idea
Metaphysics cannot give knowledge of the universe as a whole
Source
Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch.14)
Book Reference
Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.82
A Reaction
Although Russell is strongly attracted to rationalism and platonism, this remark puts him firmly in the camp of Hume, and makes him godfather to the logical positivists. I regard metaphysics as extremely speculative attempts at explanation.