32 Wisconsin Academy of /Sciences, Arts, and Ltittrs. 



of deduction express universality under conditions — that is 

 universality cf relation; just as inSnity in mathematics means 

 that which passes measurement, while in fact between infinity 

 and measurement there is no relation, and the infinite is thus 

 incomprehensible as an object of thought, although by no 

 means unrecognizable as a necessary condition antecedent to 

 all intellectual action. It is of vital importance that we note 

 this distinction, because reasoning, i. e. classification, is pos- 

 sible only so long as we deal with what is admitted to be 

 under relation : if we assume a terra to be out of all relation, 

 it ceases to be an object of thought — it can neither be classi- 

 fied nor unclassified ; it is beyond reason. Mathematics can 

 proceed with its investigations only so long as it treats all 

 quantities as measurable ; it must wholly cease its calculations 

 if an infinite term be introduced. To claim that analysis 

 represents the complete normal action of the intellect in 

 reasoning, is ultimately to claim that the initial point of 

 thinking is the summum genus of thought — God. Now God 

 is undoubtedly the initial point of absolute thought, but he is 

 not the beginning of human thought. Intellectually speaking, 

 God is the final geaeralization; every movement possible to 

 him must be one of analj^sis — a differentiation of Himself, so 

 to speak, by negatives. Thus the course of absolute Thought, 

 beginning with God, must be first towards a complete differ- 

 entiation into ultimate individualization; and lastly a com- 

 plete integration again of individuals into an infinite whole. 

 This dual action completes the circle of intellectual activity. 

 We have dropped attribute after attribute until we have 

 reached the last possible analysis ; but we do not stop here, 

 but by the assumption of attributes we again reach the highest 

 possible synthesis. This must be the method of the divine 

 activity, successive difi:erentiation and integration, the closing 

 in of a mighty circle of infinity, embracing all the finite, but 

 never losing the essential characteristic of the infinite. 



Now, if this also represent the exact movement of the finite 



