236 THE GEOGRAPHY 



distinct, and they have an infinitely different import, con- 

 sequently an infinitely different value for mankind. The 

 ethico-religious development relates to the eternal and 

 incorruptible possession ,of mankind, his immortal soul, 

 consequently, to the proper, never-ceasing I. Here an 

 universal and necessary claim is made on every man, it is 

 the point where all are alike before God, with equal rights 

 and equal burdens, and truly equal, because the simplest 

 self-understanding suffices to the object, to comprehend and 

 express the ideal perfectly and purely. From the most 

 ancient down to the present times, have these claims been 

 in the same manner clearly and definitely set forth, only 

 under various forms of expression at different times. The 

 most important of all things for the individual, of course 

 lies here : to answer those claims, and in that he answers 

 them, to legitimate his position as a man in the nobler 

 sense of the word, as a being destined to a higher comple- 

 tion and eternal existence. Without this legitimation he 

 has no right to respect, to acknowledgment of any kind, 

 even though he have ascended to ever so high a stage in 

 reference to the point next to be mentioned. 



The second claim made upon mankind, relates, on the 

 other hand, to his culture for his circumscribed position on 

 earth. Here the object is to raise every bodily and mental 

 power of our nature to a state of perfect culture, in order to 

 facilitate and ensure the attainment of the first-named 

 aim. To this belong all sciences which order and promote 

 matters of Church and State, Nature and Art, pleasure 

 and convenience ; all, together, be they valued highly or 

 lowly among men in general, stand in one and the same 

 condition of nothingness, insomuch that their importance 

 ceases with life, that they have worth and value only here 

 on this little sun-mote, our earth. A man may have 



