Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 220

196

THE FIVE FACULTIES

§ 53.

new

the old world and the

are so vastly

[Div. II

more

imi:)ortant to

this Faculty, as such, than the defective languages of

the

It does not look more supine and undeveloped nations. upon Literature as an aggregate of everything that has been handed down in writing, but as an organic conception, which only embraces that which is excellent in form and content. History also is only that in which the human consciousness ]ias

developed strength to bring the

unfolding of offers

And

its idea.

human

that which has advanced the current

and has enabled all

the fuller

of

it

human

merely

thought,

different tendencies to express themselves

The proposal

correctly.

study of

its

life to

as material Philosophy,

overwhelm this Faculty with the conceivable languages and peoples and conceptions to

must therefore be declined. This deals the death-blow this Faculty, makes it top-heavy, and causes it to lose unity in

its

self-consciousness.

In order to maintain

to all

itself as

and sideissues, and maintain unity in multiformity, and keep its attention fixed upon that which in continuous process has ever more richly unfolded the consciousness of our human race, has enabled it to fuller action, and has brought it to We do not deny that other languages clearer consciousness. also, peoples and conceptions may be the object of scientific research, but this sort of study must annex itself to the work of this faculty, and not consume its strength. a faculty

it

must distinguish between main

interests

This self-limitation is not only necessary in order that it may handle its own material, but also that it may not lose its hold on life, and thus may keep itself from conflict Duty, therefore, demands that with practical demands. in the study of the human consciousness it should not

swing away to the periphery, but that it shall take its station at the centrum, and never lose from sight the fact that the object of

its

investigation

is

the conscious life of our

race taken as an organic unity. tigates language as the to our consciousness

;

With

this in

view

wondrous instrument given

it

human inves-

as vehicle

the richest development which language

has proved capable of in the Clasncal languages of ancient and modern times and the full-grown and ripe fruit vrliieh Ian;

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