If  this  "Infinite  Self-consciousness"  be  more
than  a  mere  abstraction  —  that  is,  an  ideal  not
restricted  to  this  or  that  time,  or  the  mere  rela-
tive in  a  correlation, — if  it  be,  as  is  alleged,  a
reality, — how  is  it  known  as  such  to  us  ?  This
is  the  question  as  to  proof.
(1.)  Is  it  known  by  Intuition — immediately,
directly,  as  we  know  our  modes  of  mind — our-
selves? Do  we  know  in  any  one  intuition  a
one  consciousness  which  reproduces  itself  in


270  KNOWING  AND  BEING.
every  finite  consciousness  in  the  world?  If
known  as  a  one  universal  consciousness,  it  must
be  known  in  one  intuition.  It  cannot  be  known
in  parts  or  succession,  and  yet  known  as  one.
If  known  in  one  intuition,  it  is  known  as  in
one  moment  of  time — that  is,  an  infinite  self-
consciousness  is  known  as  existing  in  a  single
instant  of  time,  and  is  known  as  infinite,  and
yet  under  the  restriction  of  a  definite  instant  of
time.  By  intuition,  subject  to  limit,  it  cannot  be
known,  as  infinite,  or  as  the  one  infinite.  Further,
as  is  obvious  from  the  terms,  no  intuition  of  the
Infinite  or  Absolute, — taken  as  Absolute  unity,
— is  possible  in  human  consciousness,  unless  on
the  necessary  implicate  of  the  identification  of
the  Ego  or  consciousness  with  this  absolutely
one  being — this  all-comprehending  unity.
