Wordsworth，inshort，sawtheuglysideoftheindustrialrevolution，theinjurydonetodomesticlifebythefactorysystem，orthesubstitutionofaproletariateforapeasantry，andthereplacementofthelowestsocialorderbyavastinorganicmob，Thecontemporaryprocess，whichwasleadingtopauperismandtotheevilsofthefactorysystem，profoundlyaffectedWordsworth，aswellastheimpulsiveSouthey；andtheirfrequentdenunciationsgavecolourtotheimputationsthattheywereopposedtoallprogress，CertainlytheywereevenmorbidlyalivetotheevilaspectsofthepoliticaleconomyofMalthusandRicardo，whichtothemseemedtoprescribeinsensibilityandindifferencetomostseriousandrapidlyaccumulatingevils。
Meanwhile，Wordsworthwasalsoimpressedbytheunderlyingphilosophicaldifficulties。Theeffectoftherevolutionaryprincipleswastodestroythereligioussentiment，notsimplybydisprovingthisorthathistoricalstatement，butbymakingthewholeworldprosaicandmatter-of-fact。Hisoccasionaloutburstsagainstthemanofscience——the’fingeringslave’whowould’peepandbotaniseuponhismother’sgrave’——areoneversionofhisfeeling。Thewholescientificmethodtendedtomaterialismandatomism；toabreakingupoftheworldintodisconnectedatoms，andlosingthelifeindissectingthemachinery。
HisprotestisembodiedinthepantheismofthenoblelinesonTinternAbbey，andhismethodofansweringmightbedivinedfromtheodeonthe’IntimationsofImmortality。’Somehoworothertheworldrepresentsaspiritualandrationalunity，notamerechaosofdisconnectedatomsandfragments。
We’seeintotheheartofthings’whenwetrusttoouremotionsandholdbytheinstincts，clearlymanifestedinchildhood，butcloudedandoverwhelmedinourlaterstruggleswiththeworld。Theessentialthingisthecultivationofour’moralbeing，’thecarefulpreservationandassimilationofthesternsenseofduty，whichalonemakeslifebearableandgivesameaningtotheuniverse。
Wordsworth，itisplain，wasattheveryoppositepolefromtheUtilitarians。Hecametoconsiderthattheirwholemethodmeantthedissolutionofallthatwasmostvitallysacred，andtoholdthattherevolutionhadattractedhissympathiesonfalsepretences。Yetitisobviousthat，howevergreatthestimuluswhichheexerted，andhoweverloftyhishighestflightsofpoetry，hehadnodistincttheorytooffer。Hisdoctrineundoubtedlywascongenialtocertainphilosophicalviews，butwasnotitselfanarticulatephilosophy。Heappealstoinstinctsandemotions，nottoanydefinitetheory。Inaremarkableletter，ColeridgetoldWordsworthwhyhewasdisappointedwiththeExcursion。25Hehadhopedthatitwouldbethe’firstandonlytruephilosophicalpoeminexistence。’Wordsworthwastohavestartedbyexposingthe’sandysophismsofLocke，’andafterexplodingPope’sEssayonMan，andshowingthevanityofErasmusDarwin’sbeliefinan’ourang-outangstate，’andexplainingthefallofmanandthe’schemeofredemption，’tohaveconcludedby’agranddidacticswellontheidentityofatruephilosophywithtruereligion。’Hewouldshowhowlifeandintelligenceweretobesubstitutedforthe’philosophyofmechanism。’Factswouldbeelevatedintotheory，theoryintolaws，andlawsintolivingandintelligentpowers——trueidealismnecessarilyperfectingitselfinrealism，andrealismrefiningitselfintoidealism。’