Page:Popular Works of Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1889) Vol 2.djvu/79

 and in this way at least perceiving that there is a delight which immeasurably transcends every enjoyment of sense?

Another and higher form of the Idea, which however manifests itself in fewer individuals, is the effluence of Original Energy in the Social relations of Mankind; the source of all great world-embracing political Ideas; in life the parent of Heroism, and the author of all Law and Order among men. What power this Idea confers upon man, we have already seen; with what Blessedness it fills the soul devoted to its service, follows from what we have said; and whoever amongst you can think of the world and his country, and can devote his life to their service in forgetfulness of self, knows it from his own experience.

A third form of the Idea is the effluence of the Original Energy in the building up and reconstructing the Universe from itself, i.e. from Thought,—in other words Science; for whenever Science has shown itself among men, it has been essentially this which I have said, and so it must be forever. The high enjoyment which Science ensures to her votaries has been already described:—we have but to add that this pleasure is more spiritual, and hence higher and more exquisite, than any other ideal enjoyment, because here the Idea is not only present, but is felt and enjoyed as Idea,—as Thought itself rising into visibility from the depths of its own nature;—and this is without doubt the highest Blessedness to which mortal can attain here below. It is only in their outward influence that the Fine Arts have an advantage over Science, inasmuch as they are able at times to raise even the uninitiated to their own height by the magic of spiritual sympathy, and so give him a foretaste of perfect enjoyment; while the secrets of Science are accessible only to those for whom they have ceased to be secrets.

Finally:—the most comprehensive, all-embracing and universally comprehensible form of the Idea;—the