6

Logic II 6

the classification according to ideas would be the true geneic classificati genuine
genealogy. True, the same idea may often
twice arises in different times and places, quite independently,
as far as history can inform us; so that were we to deem
ideas the creations of the persons in whose minds they appear,
there would have been oft times agreement in ideas without
genetic connection. For we know that the majority of great
conceptions have appeared emerged simultaneously in different
quarters. But is not this very fact a strong argument to
reinforce others which ought to convince us that ideas, or
at any rate, not true and great ideas, are not personal creations nor personal property. Far lower
is it that the [?] upon the person is conferred the privilege of
servitude to the idea. The individual intellect is but the
vehicle of the idea; the individual man should be proud
to wear its uniform. All that there is of value and permanence
in him is the offspring of the idea. The only source
of the idea is the form of circumstance in which it was