Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 49

;

Chap. Ill]

§ 13.

FOILING OF THE CONCEPTION

25

thought which we ourselves cast, but that it germinates, grows, and ripens independently of us, and is only plucked of

by us. As the flower was already present in the seed, and unfolded itself from it by a lawful development, so does the clear conception spring slowl}^ from a process in our world of thought, which primarily at least went on altogether outside our consciousness. And yet this unconscious

working produces

its

effect

upon our

act.

The

infant seeks

the mother-breast and drinks without having the least impression of what the breast is, or the mother, or the milk.

From

that unconscious substrata of our life germinates

first

This impression is first defined by the of all impression. The idea which impels us ivord by which it is expressed. And only when this idea springs from it but gradually. inspires us, and has impelled us to act, does the bud set

and by degrees unfold; till at length as fruit of empirical knowledge our insight becomes possible into the structure of the flower, and our conception forms itself. itself

Speaking, therefore, in the organic sense, this "conception " was already present in its germ in the first impulse that worked in us from the unconscious world of thought this conception germinated in the impression ; it

matured into

the idea; it directed us in our practical actions; and finally If, on objectified itself in our forming of the conception. the other hand, you take the "conception" as you grasped in its completed form, then of course it became observaljle only at the end of this process of thought, and to you it had its birth at that moment only in which you plucked it. Applying this to Encyclopedia, we find that the concepit

was not cast by us arbitrarily, but and defined itself. This that it germinated imagination, but it comour of conception is no product As such the into itself. pelled our thought to take it up germ was already prepared, when the first impulse began to work in the human mind, from which sprang all Encyclopedic study. But if you take this conception, as here it must be taken, in distinction from the idea, the Avord, and the impression, then it only began to exist for you at that motion of Encyclopedia also

of necessity

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