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and　the　charge　consequent　brought　against　speculation；　shall　be　explained　and　confuted。　We　do

not；　however；　propose　to　correct　the　innumerable　special　misrepresentations；　trite　or　novel；　that

are　current　respecting　the　aims；　the　interests；　and　the　modes　of　treating　history；　and　its　relation　to

Philosophy。

§　12

The　only　Thought　which　Philosophy　brings　with　it　to　the　contemplation　of　History；　is　the　simple

conception　of　Reason；　that　Reason　is　the　Sovereign　of　the　World；　that　the　history　of　the　world

therefore；　presents　us　with　a　rational　process。　This　conviction　and　intuition　is　a　hypothesis　in　the

domain　of　history　as　such。　In　that　of　Philosophy　it　is　no　hypothesis。　It　is　there　proved　by

speculative　cognition；　that　Reason　—　and　this　term　may　here　suffice　us；　without　investigating　the

relation　sustained　by　the　Universe　to　the　Divine　Being；　—　is　Substance；　as　well　as　Infinite　Power；

its　own　Infinite　Material　underlying　all　the　natural　and　spiritual　life　which　it　originates；　as　also　the

Infinite　Form；　—　that　which　sets　this　Material　in　motion。　On　the　one　hand；　Reason　is　the　substance

of　the　Universe；　viz。　that　by　which　and　in　which　all　reality　has　its　being　and　subsistence。　On　the

other　hand；　it　is　the　Infinite　Energy　of　the　Universe；　since　Reason　is　not　so　powerless　as　to　be

incapable　of　producing　anything　but　a　mere　ideal；　a　mere　intention　—　having　its　place　outside

reality；　nobody　knows　where；　something　separate　and　abstract；　in　the　heads　of　certain　human

beings。　It　is　the　infinite　plex　of　things；　their　entire　Essence　and　Truth。　It　is　its　own　material

which　it　mits　to　its　own　Active　Energy　to　work　up；　not　needing；　as　finite　action　does；　the

conditions　of　an　external　material　of　given　means　from　which　it　may　obtain　its　support；　and　the

objects　of　its　activity。　It　supplies　its　own　nourishment　and　is　the　object　of　its　own　operations。

While　it　is　exclusively　its　own　basis　of　existence；　and　absolute　final　aim；　it　is　also　the　energising

power　realising　this　aim；　developing　it　not　only　in　the　phenomena　of　the　Natural；　but　also　of　the

Spiritual　Universe　—　the　History　of　the　World。　That　this　“Idea”　or　“Reason”　is　the　True；　the

Eternal；　the　absolutely　powerful　essence；　that　it　reveals　itself　in　the　World；　and　that　in　that　World

nothing　else　is　revealed　but　this　and　its　honour　and　glory　—　is　the　thesis　which；　as　we　have　said；

has　been　proved　in　Philosophy　and　is　here　regarded　as　demonstrated。

§　13

In　those　of　my　hearers　who　are　not　acquainted　with　Philosophy；　I　may　fairly　presume；　at　least；　the

existence　of　a　belief　in　Reason；　a　desire；　a　thirst　for　acquaintance　with　it；　in　entering　upon　this

course　of　Lectures。　It　is　in　fact；　the　wish　for　rational　insight；　not　the　ambition　to　amass　a　mere　heap