But at the end of the sixth book he conceives another and more perfect method, in which all ideas are only steps or grades or moments of thought, forming a connected whole which is self-supporting, and in which consistency is the test of truth.

He does not explain to us in detail the nature of the process.

Like many other thinkers both in ancient and modern times his mind seems to be filled with a vacant form which he is unable to realize.

He supposes the sciences to have a natural order and connexion in an age when they can hardly be said to exist.

He is hastening on to the 'end of the intellectual world' without even making a beginning of them.
In modern times we hardly need to be reminded that the process of acquiring knowledge is here confused with the contemplation of absolute knowledge.