essary, and _hence_ is not derived from experience." If this is
true of the professor, he knew all of mathematics before he opened his
eyes in the cradle. Common mortals know nothing of quantity or
anything else, until they have had a little experience. If we know
everything that is "universal and necessary" without experience, the
little babes must be very wise indeed.

Again, "causal energy is essentially a _self-separation_, for in order
that a cause A. may produce an effect in B. outside of it, cause A.
must detach or separate from itself the influence or energy which
modifies B." What does the earth _detach from itself_ when it causes a
heavy body to fall? In chemical catalysis what does the second body
"detach from itself" to produce change in the first, which is changed
by its mere presence. The assertion is but partially true, applying
only to the transfer of force when one body strikes another. Aristotle
has some thoroughly absurd suggestions on the same subject which
Professor H. did not reproduce.

How does he grapple with the idea of God, which is the essence of his
philosophy? Here it is: "The first principle as pure self-activity,
must necessarily have the permanent form of _knowing of knowing_, for
this root form of self-consciousness is entirely self-related. The
self sees the essential self, the self-activity is the object of
self." We are instructed! God _knows he knows_, and that is the very
essence of his divinity--that is enough. In this profound expression
we have the consummation of philosophy, for the purpose of his
philosophy is to know God, "_Nunc dimittis_," we need to know nothing
more,--_we know we know_, and so we are God's. "This line of thought
brought up at every step some phase of Plato and Aristotle," said the
professor, and we are thankful that he did not resurrect any more of
the puerilities of Athenian ignorance. "Knowing of knowing" is quite
enough, which he repeats to be emphatic. "All true being is in the
form of the infinite or self-related, and related to itself as the
_knowing of knowing_. All beings that are not this perfect form of
self-knowing, either potentially or actually, must be parts of a
system or world order which is produced in some way by true being or
self-knowing. All potential self-knowings contain within themselves
the _power to realize_ their self-knowledge, and are therefore free
beings." This is a broad hint that men are gods and lands us in that
realm of