298 THE WORLD-ENERGY 



finitude, however, is on the side of its present realization, 

 while its infinitude is on the side of its ideal that is, its 

 typical nature. 



It has, therefore, an infinite ideal to fulfil; and yet 

 must fulfil that ideal through a process the steps of which 

 are involved in succession. Whence it appears that it 

 can never absolutely, exhaustively fulfil its destiny; 

 though at every stage in its approximation toward the 

 fulfilment of that destiny, its vigor as a self-identical, 

 vital unit must be by so much enhanced. 



We may fairly conclude, therefore, that there can be 

 no period in the self -consistent existence of the subject or 

 spiritual unit in which the tendency toward dissolution 

 can so much as balance, much less predominate over, the 

 tendency toward increase of vigor involving its assured 

 permanence as precisely the . self-same, self-identical 

 spiritual unit whose free, self-consistent activity neces- 

 sarily tends ever toward its own perfection. 



Thus the created subject proves to be in its very nature 

 a genuine individual, an indivisible, immortal, self-com- 

 pleting ideal totality. It is characterized by substantial 

 universality, and hence possesses genuine continuity. Its 

 perpetuated existence, then, is one in which its self- 

 identity could not be lost. 



On the other hand, as a vital, concrete universal, it 

 must persistently prove itself an active unit, a unit which, 

 through its own spontaneous activity, unfolds itself into 

 continuously multiplied complexity of specialization. 



As universal it particularizes itself. As possessing 

 genuine continuity it spontaneously develops itself into 

 ever more manifold discrete modes. As self-special- 

 izing universal it is, once more, a divinely constituted 



