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104 content: what then is its emotional content, what is its moral significance?

The phenomenon of Hegelianism will constitute one of the most important problems in that study of the comparative psychology of philosophers which some one will eventually initiate.

What are the states of consciousness of those who read or write Hegelian phrases? What are the sentiments or the needs which have caused the rise and development of philosophies of the Hegelian type? For it does not suffice to say that the books of Hegel and his disciples are for the most part composed of meaningless phrases which many persons, through habit, through imitation, or through lack of analytical ability, think that they comprehend. If, as I believe, those phrases have no valid theoretical significance, they must have an emotional or an æsthetic or a moral significance, and it must be possible to determine and describe this significance at least approximately.

Among the non-philosophic elements which enter into Hegelian philosophy, the æsthetic element certainly holds the first place. I am convinced that there is a rhetoric of conceits as well as a rhetoric of imagery, and that philosophy, like