第17部分(第1/7 页)

into　relief　in　contrast　with　the　so…called　non…essential。　But　in　order　to　render　this　possible；　we　must

know　what　is　essential；　and　that　is　—　in　view　of　the　History　of　the　World　in　general　—　the

Consciousness　of　Freedom；　and　the　phases　which　this　consciousness　assumes　in　developing　itself。

The　bearing　of　historical　facts　on　this　category；　is　their　bearing　on　the　truly　Essential。　Of　the

difficulties　stated；　and　the　opposition　exhibited　to　prehensive　conceptions　in　science；　part　must

be　referred　to　the　inability　to　grasp　and　understand　Ideas。　If　in　Natural　History　some　monstrous

hybrid　growth　is　alleged　as　an　objection　to　the　recognition　of　clear　and　indubitable　classes　or

species；　a　sufficient　reply　is　furnished　by　a　sentiment　often　vaguely　urged；　—　that　“the　exception

confirms　the　rule；”　i。e。；　that　it　is　the　part　of　a　well…defined　rule；　to　hew　the　conditions　in　which　it

applies；　or　the　deficiency　or　hybridism　of　cases　that　are　abnormal。　Mere　Nature　is　too　weak　to

keep　its　genera　and　species　pure；　when　conflicting　with　alien　elementary　influences。　If；　e。g。；　on

considering　the　human　organisation　in　its　concrete　aspect；　we　assert　that　brain；　heart；　and　so　forth

are　essential　to　its　organic　life；　some　miserable　abortion　may　be　adduced；　which　has　on　the　whole

the　human　form；　or　parts　of　it；　—　which　has　been　conceived　in　a　human　body　and　has　breathed

after　birth　therefrom；　—　in　which　nevertheless　no　brain　and　no　heart　is　found。　If　such　an　instance　is

quoted　against　the　general　conception　of　a　human　being　—　the　objector　persisting　in　using　the

name；　coupled　with　a　superficial　idea　respecting　it　—　it　can　be　proved　that　a　real；　concrete　human

being；　is　a　tru