correctness as compared with facts. The truth,
then, that a Providence (that of God) presides over
the events of the world consorts with the proposition
in question; for Divine Providence is wisdom, endowed
with an infinite power, which realizes its aim, viz.,
the absolute rational design of the world. Reason
is thought conditioning itself with perfect freedom.
But a difference—rather a contradiction—will
manifest itself between this belief and our principle,
just as was the case in reference to the demand made
by Socrates in the case of Anaxagoras’ dictum.
For that belief is similarly indefinite; it is what
is called a belief in a general providence, and is
not followed out into definite application, or displayed
in its bearing on the grand total—the entire
course of human history. But to explain history
is to depict the passions of mankind, the genius,
the active powers, that play their part on the great
stage; and the providentially determined process which
these exhibit constitutes what is generally called
the “plan” of Providence. Yet it
is this very plan which is supposed to be concealed
from our view, which it is deemed presumption even
to wish to recognize. The ignorance of Anaxagoras
as to how intelligence reveals itself in actual existence
was ingenuous. Neither in his consciousness, nor
in that of Greece at large, had that thought been
further expanded. He had not attained the power
to apply his general principle to the concrete, so
as to deduce the latter from the former; it was Socrates
who took the first step in comprehending the union
of the concrete with the universal. Anaxagoras,
then, did not take up a hostile position toward such
an application; the common belief in Providence does;
at least it opposes the use of the principle on a
large scale, and denies the possibility of discerning
the plan of Providence. In isolated cases this
plan is supposed to be manifest. Pious persons
are encouraged to recognize in particular circumstances
something more than mere chance, to acknowledge the
guiding hand of God; for instance, when help has unexpectedly
come to an individual in great perplexity and need.
But these instances of providential design are of
a limited kind, and concern the accomplishment of
nothing more than the desires of the individual in
question. But in the history of the world, the
individuals we have to do with are peoples, totalities
that are States. We cannot, therefore, be satisfied
with what we may call this “peddling” view
of Providence, to which the belief alluded to limits
itself. Equally unsatisfactory is the merely
abstract, undefined belief in a Providence, when that
belief is not brought to bear upon the details of
the process which it conducts. On the contrary
our earnest endeavor must be directed to the recognition
of the ways of Providence, the means it uses, and the
historical phenomena in which it manifests itself;
and we must show their connection with the general
principle above mentioned. But in noticing the