AND now, gentlemen, <br /> A word I give to remain in your memories and minds, <br /> As base, and finale too, for all metaphysics. <br /> <br /> (So, to the students, the old professor, <br /> At the close of his crowded course.) <br /> <br /> Having studied the new and antique, the Greek and Germanic systems, <br /> Kant having studied and stated--Fichte and Schelling and Hegel, <br /> Stated the lore of Plato--and Socrates, greater than Plato, <br /> And greater than Socrates sought and stated--Christ divine having <br /> studied long, <br /> I see reminiscent to-day those Greek and Germanic systems, 10 <br /> See the philosophies all--Christian churches and tenets see, <br /> Yet underneath Socrates clearly see--and underneath Christ the divine <br /> I see, <br /> The dear love of man for his comrade--the attraction of friend to <br /> friend, <br /> Of the well-married husband and wife--of children and parents, <br /> Of city for city, and land for land.<br /><br />Walt Whitman<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-base-of-all-metaphysics/
