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deeper conception of Philosophy itself。
1。 The Historical Side of This Connection。
It is usually said that political affairs and such matters as Religion are to be taken into consideration
because they have exercised a great influence on the Philosophy of the time； and similarly it exerts
an influence upon them。 But when people are content with such a category as 〃great influence〃
they place the two in an external relationship； and start from the point of view that both sides are
for themselves independent。 Here； however； we must think of this relationship in another category；
and not according to the influence or effect of one upon the other。 The true category is the unity of
all these different forms； so that it is one Mind which manifests itself in； and impresses itself upon
these different elements。
a。 Outward and historical conditions imposed upon Philosophy。
It must be remarked in the first place； that a certain stage is requisite in the intellectual culture of a
people in order that it may have a Philosophy at all。 Aristotle says； 〃Man first begins to
philosophize when the necessities of life are supplied〃 （Metaphysics； I。 2）； because since
Philosophy is a free and not self…seeking activity； cravings of want must have disappeared； a
strength； elevation and inward fortitude of mind must have appeared； passions must be subdued
and consciousness set far advanced； before what is universal can be thought of。 Philosophy may
thus be called a kind of luxury； in so far as luxury signifies those enjoyments and pursuits which do
not belong to external necessity as such。 Philosophy in this respect seems more capable of being
dispensed with than anything else； but that depends on what is called indispensable。 From the
point of view of mind； Philosophy may even be said to be that which is most essential。
b。 The commencement in History of an intellectual necessity for
Philosophy。
However much Philosophy； as the thought and conception of the Mind of a particular time； is a
priori； it is at the same time just as really a result； since the thought produced and； indeed； the life
and action are produced to produce themselves。 This activity contains the essential element of a
negation； because to produce is also to destroy； Philosophy in producing itself； has the natural as
its starting point in order to abrogate it again。 Philosophy thus makes its appearance at a time
when the Mind of a people has worked its way out of the indifference and stolidity of the first life
of nature； as it has also done from the standpoint of the emotional； so that the individual aim has
blotted itself out。 But as Mind passes on from its natural form； it also proceeds from its exact code
of morals and the robustness of life to reflection and conception。 The result of this is that it lays
hold of and troubles this real； substantial kind of existence； this morality and faith； and thus the
period of destruction commences。 Further progress is then made through the gathering up of
thought within itself。 It may be said that Philosophy first commences when a race for the most part
has left its concrete life； when separation and change of class have begun； and the people
approach toward their fall； when a gulf has arisen between inward strivings and external reality；
and the old forms of Religion； &c。； are no longer satisfying； when Mind manifests indifference to its
living existence or rests unsatisfied therein； and moral life becomes dissolved。 Then it is that Mind
takes refuge in the clear space of thought to create for itself a kingdom of thought in opposition to
the world of actuality； and Philosophy is the reconciliation following upon the destruction of that
real world which thought has begun。 When Philosophy with its abstractions paints grey in grey； the
freshness and life of youth has gone； the reconciliation is not a reconciliation in the actual； but in the
ideal world。 Thus the Greek philosophers held themselves far removed from the business of the
State and were called by the people idlers； because they withdrew themselves within the world of
thought。
This holds good throughout all the history of Philosophy。 It was so with Ionic Philosophy in the
decline of the Ionic States in Asia Minor。 Socrates and Plato had no more pleasure in the life of
the State in Athens； which was in the course of its decline； Plato tried to bring about something
better with Dionysius。 Thus in Athens； with the ruin of the Athenian people； the period was
reached when Philosophy appeared。 In Rome； Philosophy first expanded in the decline of the
Republic and of Roman life proper； under the despotism of the Roman Emperors： a time of
misfortune for the world and of decay in political life； when earlier religious systems tottered and
everything was in the process of struggle and disintegration。 With the decline of the Roman
Empire； which was so great； rich and glorious； and yet inwardly dead； the height and indeed the
zenith of ancient Philosophy is associated through the Neo…Platonists at Alexandria。 It was also in
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries； when the Teutonic life of the Middle Ages acquired another
form； that Philosophy first became taught； though it was later on that it attained to independence。
Before that； political life still existed in unity with Religion； or if the State fought against the Church；
the Church still kept the foremost place； but now the gulf between Church and State came into
existence。 Philosophy thus comes in at a certain epoch only in the development of the whole。
c。 Philosophy as the thought of its time。
But men do not at certain epochs； merely philosophize in general； for there is a definite Philosophy
which arises among a people； and the definite character of the standpoint of thought is the same
character which permeates all the other historical sides of the spirit of the people； which is most
intimately related to them； and which constitutes their foundation。 The particular form of a
Philosophy is thus contemporaneous with a particular constitution of the people amongst whom it
makes its appearance； with their institutions and forms of government； their morality； their social
life and the capabilities； customs and enjoyments of the same； it is so with their attempts and
achievements in art and science； with their religions； warfares and external relationships； likewise
with the decadence of the States in which this particular principle and form had maintained its
supremacy； and with the origination and progress of new States in which a higher principle finds its
manifestation and development。 Mind in each case has elaborated and expanded in the whole
domain of its manifold nature the principle of the particular stage of self…consciousness to which it
has attained。 Thus the Mind of a people in its richness is an organization； and； like a Cathedral； is
divided into numerous vaults； passages； pillars and vestibules； all of which have proceeded out of
one whole and are directed to one end。 Philosophy is one form of these many aspects。 And which
is it？ It is the fullest blossom； the Notion of Mind in its entire form； the consciousness and spiritual
essence of