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I
CONCLUSION.
" HE undoubtedly striking confirmations recorded in
JL this treatise, which have been contributed to my
doctrine by the Empirical Sciences since its first appearance,
but independently of it, will unquestionably have been
followed by many more : for how small is the portion
which the individual can find time, opportunity and
patience to become acquainted with, of the branch of litera
ture dedicated to Natural Science which is so actively culti
vated in all languages ! Even what I have here mentioned
however, inspires me with confidence that the time for my
philosophy is ripening ; and it is with heartfelt joy that I
see the Empirical Sciences gradually come forward in the
course of time, as witnesses above suspicion, to testify to
the truth of a doctrine, concerning which a politic, inviolable
silence has been maintained for seventeen years by our
"
"
philosophers by profession (some of them give them
selves this characteristic name, nay even that of
"
philoso
phers by trade ") ; so that it had been left to Jean Paul, who
was ignorant of their tactics, to draw attention to it. For
it may have appeared to them a delicate matter to praise
it, and, on due consideration, they may have thought it not
altogether safe to blame it either, and may have judged it
unnecessary besides to show the public, as belonging neither
to the profession nor to the trade, that it is quite possible
to philosophize very seriously without being either unin
telligible or wearisome. Why compromise themselves there
fore with it, since no one betrays himself by silence and