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resolved by its' own inherent process into a simple determinate quality。 Thereby it is raised to
logical form； and its being and essence coincide； its concrete existence is merely this process that
takes place； and is eo ipso logical existence。 It is therefore needless to apply a formal scheme to
the concrete content in an external fashion； the content is in its very nature a transition into a formal
shape； which； however； ceases to be formalism of an external kind； because the form is the
indwelling process of the concrete content itself。
This nature of scientific method； which consists partly in being inseparable from the content； and
partly in determining the rhythm of its movement by its own agency； finds； as we mentioned
before； its peculiar systematic expression in speculative philosophy。 What is here stated describes
in effect the essential principle； but cannot stand for more at this stage than an assertion or
assurance by way of anticipation。 The truth it contains is not to be found in this exposition； which is
in part historical in character。 And just for that reason； too； it is not in the least refuted if anyone
assures us on the contrary that this is not so； that the process instead is here so and so； if ideas we
are all used to； being truths accepted or settled and familiar to everyone； are brought to mind and
recounted； or； again； if something new is served up and Guaranteed as coming from the inner
sanctuaries of inspired intuition。
Such a view is bound to meet with opposition。 The first instinctive reaction on the part of knowing；
when offered something that was unfamiliar； is usually to resist it。 It seeks by that means to save
freedom and native insight； to secure its own inherent authority against alien authority — for that is
the way anything apprehended for the first time appears。 This attitude is adopted； too； in order to
do away with the semblance of a kind of disgrace which would lie in the fact that something has
had to be learnt。 In like manner； again； when the unfamiliar or unknown is received with applause；
the reaction is in the same way an exaltation of freedom and native authority。 It consists in
something analogous to ultra…revolutionary declamation and action。
15。 The demands of the study of philosophy
Hence the important thing for the student of science is to make himself undergo the strenuous toil
of conceptual reflection； of thinking in the form of the notion。 This demands concentrated attention
on the notion as such； on simple and ultimate determinations like being…in…itself； being…for…itself；
self…identity； and so on； for these are elemental； pure； self …determined functions of a kind we
might call souls； were it not that their conceptual nature denotes something higher than that term
contains。 The interruption by conceptual thought of the habit of always thinking in figurative ideas
（Vorstellungen） is as annoying and troublesome to this way of thinking as to that process of
formal intelligence which in its reasoning rambles about with no real thoughts to reason with。 The
former； the habit； may be called materialized thinking； a fortuitous mental state； one that is
absorbed in what is material； and hence finds it very distasteful at once to lift its self clear of this
matter and be with itself alone。 The latter； the process of raisonnement； is； on the other hand；
detachment from all content； and conceited superiority to it。 What is wanted here is the effort and
struggle to give up this kind of freedom； and instead of being a merely arbitrary principle directing
the content anyhow； this freedom should sink into and pervade the content； should let it be
directed and controlled by its own proper nature； i。e。 by the self as its own self。 and should
observe this process taking place。 We must abstain from interrupting the immanent rhythm of the
movement of conceptual thought； we must refrain from arbitrarily interfering with it； and
introducing ideas and reflections that have been obtained elsewhere。 Restraint of this sort is itself
an essential condition of attending to and getting at the real nature of the notion。
16。 Argumentative thinking in its negative attitude —
There are two aspects in the case of that ratiocinative procedure which mark its contrast from
conceptual thinking and call for further notice。 Raisonnement； in the first place； adopts a negative
attitude towards the content apprehended； knows how to refute it and reduce it to nothingness。 To
see what the content is not is merely a negative process； it is a dead halt； which does not of itself
go beyond itself； and proceed to a new content； it has to get hold of something else from
somewhere or other in order to have once more a content。 It is reflection upon and into the empty
ego； the vanity of its own knowledge。 Conceit of this kind brings out not only that this content is
vain and empty； but also that to see this is itself fatuity too： for it is negation with no perception of
the positive element within it。 In that this reflection does not even have its own negativity as its
content； it is not inside actual fact at all； but for ever away outside it。 On that account it imagines
that by asserting mere emptiness it is going much farther than insight that embraces and reveals a
wealth of content。 On the other hand； in the case of conceptual thinking； as was above indicated；
the negative aspect falls within the content itself； and is the positive substance of that content； as
well as being its inherent character and moving principle as by being the entirety of what these are。
Looked at as a result； it is determinate specific negation； the negative which is the outcome of this
process； and consequently is a positive content as well。
17。 — in its positive attitude； its subject
In view of the fact that ratiocinative thinking has a content； whether of images or thoughts or a
mixture of both； there is another side to its process which makes conceptual comprehension
difficult for it。 The peculiar nature of this aspect is closely connected with the essential meaning of
the idea above described； in fact； expresses the idea in the way this appears as the process of
thinking apprehension。 For just as ratiocinative thinking in its negative reference； which we have
been describing； is nothing but the self into which the content returns； in the same way； on the
other hand； in its positive cognitive process the self is an ideally presented subject to which the
content is related as an accident and predicate。 This subject constitutes the basis to which the
content is attached and on which the process moves to and fro。 Conceptual thinking goes on in
quite a different way。 Since the concept or notion is the very self of the object； manifesting itself as
the development of the object； it is not a quiescent subject； passively supporting accidents： it is a
self…determining active concept which takes up its determinations and makes them its own。 In the
course of this process that inert passive subject really disappears； it enters into the different
constituents and pervades the content； instead of remainin