iate the doctrine that Understanding generally； or Reason； governs the world。 It is
not intelligence as self…conscious Reason； — not a Spirit as such that is meant； and we must clearly
distinguish these from each other。 The movement of the solar system takes place according to
unchangeable laws。 These laws are Reason； implicit in the phenomena in question。 But neither the
sun nor the plas； which revolve around it according to these laws； can be said to have any
consciousness of them。
§ 16
A thought of this kind； — that Nature is an embodiment of Reason； that it is unchangeably
subordinate to universal laws； appears nowise striking or strange to us。 We are accustomed to
such conceptions； and find nothing extraordinary in them。 And I have mentioned this extraordinary
occurrence； partly to show how history teaches； that ideas of this kind； which may seem trivial to
us； have not always been in the world； that on the contrary； such a thought makes an epoch in the
annals of human intelligence。 Aristotle says of Anaxagoras； as the originator of the thought in
question； that he appeared as a sober man among the drunken。 Socrates adopted the doctrine
from Anaxagoras； and it forthwith became the ruling idea in Philosophy； except in the school of
Epicurus； who ascribed all events to chance。 “I was delighted with the sentiment；” — Plato
makes Socrates say — “and hoped I had found a teacher who would show me Nature in harmony
with Reason； who would demonstrate in each particular phenomenon its specific aim； and in the
whole； the grand object of the Universe。 I would not have surrendered this hope for a great deal。
But how very much was I disappointed；