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As to time； which； it is to be presumed； would； by way of the counterpart to space； constitute the
object…matter of the other division of pure mathematics； this is the notion itself in the form of
existence。 The principle of quantity； of difference which is not determined by the notion； and the
principle of equality； of abstract； lifeless unity； are incapable of dealing with that sheer restlessness
of life and its absolute and inherent process of differentiation。 It is therefore only in an arrested；
paralysed form； only in the form of the quantitative unit； that this essentially negative activity
becomes the second object…matter of this way of knowing； which； itself an external operation；
degrades what is self…moving to the level of mere matter； in order thus to get an indifferent；
external； lifeless content。
13。 The nature of philosophical truth and its method
Philosophy； on the contrary； does not deal with a determination that is non…essential； but with a
determination so far as it is an essential factor。 The abstract or unreal is not its element and
content； but the real； what is self…establishing； has life within itself； existence in its very notion。 It is
the process that creates its own moments in its course； and goes through them all； and the whole
of this movement constitutes its positive content and its truth。 This movement includes； therefore；
within it the negative factor as well； the element which would be named falsity if it could be
considered one from which we had to abstract。 The element that disappears has rather to be
looked at as itself essential； not in the sense of being something fixed； that has to be cut off from
truth and allowed to lie outside it； heaven knows where； just as similarly the truth is not to be held
to stand on the other side as an immovable lifeless positive element。 Appearance is the process of
arising into being and passing away again； a process that itself does not arise and does not pass
away； but is per se； and constitutes reality and the life…movement of truth。 The truth is thus the
bacchanalian revel； where not a member is sober； and because every member no sooner becomes
detached than it eo ipso collapses straightway； the revel is just as much a state of transparent
unbroken calm。 Judged by that movement； the particular shapes which mind assumes do not
indeed subsist any more than do determinate thoughts or ideas； but they are； all the same； as much
positive and necessary moments； as negative and transitory。 In the entirety of the movement； taken
as an unbroken quiescent whole； that which obtains distinctness in the course of its process and
secures specific existence； is preserved in the form of a self …recollection； in which existence is
self…knowledge； and self…knowledge； again； is immediate existence。
It might well seem necessary to state at the outset the chief points in connexion with the method of
this process； the way in which science operates。 Its nature； however； is to be found in what has
already been said； while the proper systematic exposition of it is the special business of Logic； or
rather is Logic itself。 For the method is nothing else than the structure of the whole in its pure and
essential form。 In regard； however； to what has been hitherto currently held on this point； we must
be sensible that the system of ideas bearing on the question of philosophical method； belongs also
to a stage of mental culture that has now passed away。 This may perhaps seem somewhat boastful
or revolutionary； and I am far from adopting an attitude of that sort； but it is significant that the
scientific régime bequeathed by mathematics — a régime of explanations； divisions； axioms； an
array of theorems； with proofs； principles； and the consequences and conclusions drawn from
them — all this has already come to be generally considered as at any rate out of date。 Even
though there is no clear idea why it is unsuitable； yet little or no use is made of it any longer； and
even though it is not condemned outright； it is all the same not in favour。 And we must be so far
prejudiced in favour of what is excellent to believe that it can turn itself to practical account； and
make itself acceptable。 But it is not difficult to see that the method of propounding a proposition；
producing reasons for it and then refuting its opposite by reasons too； is not the form in which truth
can appear。 Truth moves itself by its very nature； but the method just mentioned is a form of
knowledge external to its material。 Hence it is peculiar to mathematics and must be left to
mathematics； which； as already indicated； takes for its principle the relation of quantity； a relation
alien to the notion； and gets its material from lifeless space； and the equally lifeless numerical unit。
Or； again； such a method； adopting a freer style； one involving more of arbitrariness and chance；
may have a place in ordinary life； in a conversation； or in supplying matter…of…fact instruction for
the satisfaction of curiosity rather than knowledge； very much as a preface does。 In every…day life
the mind finds its content in different kinds of knowledge； experiences of various sorts； concrete
facts of sense； thoughts； too； and principles； and； in general； in whatever lies ready to hand； or
passes for a solid stable entity； or real being。 The mind follows wherever this leads； sometimes
interrupting the connexion by an unrestrained caprice in dealing with the content； and takes up the
attitude of determining and handling it in quite an external fashion。 It runs the content back to some
touchstone of certainty or other； even though it be but the feeling of the moment； and conviction is
satisfied if it reaches some familiar resting…place。
But when the necessity of the notion banishes from its realm the loose procedure of the
〃raisonnements〃 of conversation； as well as the pedantic style of scientific pomposity； its place； as
we have already mentioned； must not be taken by the disconnected utterance of presageful
surmise and inspiration； and the arbitrary caprice of prophetic utterance； for this does not merely
despise that particular form of scientific procedure； but contemns scientific procedure altogether。
14。 Against schematizing formalism
Now that the triplicity； adopted in the system of Kant — a method rediscovered； to begin with； by
instinctive insight； but left lifeless and uncomprehended — has been raised to its significance as an
absolute method； true form is thereby set up in its true content； and the conception of science has
come to light。 But the use this form has been put to in certain quarters has no right to the name of
science。 For we see it there reduced to a lifeless schema； to nothing better than a mere shadow；
and scientific organization to a synoptic table。 This formalism — about which we spoke before in
general terms； and whose procedure we wish here to state more fully — thinks it has
comprehended and expressed the nature and life of a given form when it proclaims a determination
of the schema to be its predicate。 The predicate may be subjectivity or objectivity； or again
magnetism； ele