Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 51

Chap. Ill]

demand

ENCYCLOPEDIC NECESSITY

§ 15.

The lack

of this idea.

of a

27

pure definition of the con-

ception has created much confusion and error, and it is the dut}^ of the conception-definition to restore us from these paths of error to the right track,

For

distinctions.

and from

this confusion to clear

this reason our investigation

the consideration of the ivord and

its

began with

original significance, in

order to grasp the root-idea of Encyclopedia as such; after this

we

traced the empirical use of this

ofuidance of the idea ception

must be

;

but

now from

this root-idea the con-

dialectically grasped

root-idea that the

human mind

word under the

and

fixed.

It is the

brings about a certain dis-

human knowledge, which is not done arbitraril}'-, but agreeably to a fixed order assumed to be present there. Under the lead of the general tinction and order in the chaos of our

Encyclopedic idea this seeking after order in the chaos all sorts of ways. First there was

took place practically in

human knowledge by

distinguishing belonging to a fixed sphere or circle between certain groups Then order was sought by collecting the treasure of of life. a classifying of this

knowledge into proper arrangement. After that made by placing the several departments of knowledge in a certain logical relation. And, finally^ the attempt was made to penetrate to the organism itself, which science taken as a whole presents. It is not proper arbitrarily to mark one of these four meanings as the conception of Encyclopedia. Hence we must see along which of these lines the lawful development of the Encyclopedic thought comes to its conception. accessible

the effort to establish order was

§ 15.

Encyclopedic Necessity

This investigation

and

order.

If

we

is governed by the antithesis of chaos ourselves bring order into the chaos of

our knowledge, after whatever manner we please, there is no Encyclopedic conception possible, because in that case every age and scholar

we have no such

is free

to do this as he wills.

then there

But

if

something that binds us, and the question must be put as to what compels us logically to take this order in this way and not in the liberty,

is

a

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