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The nearest approach in modern philosophy to the universal

science of Plato, is to be found in the Hegelian 'succession of

moments in the unity of the idea.' Plato and Hegel alike seem to

have conceived the world as the correlation of abstractions; and

not impossibly they would have understood one another better than

any of their commentators understand them (Swift's Voyage to

Laputa. 'Having a desire to see those ancients who were most

renowned for wit and learning, I set apart one day on purpose. I

proposed that Homer and Aristotle might appear at the head of all

their commentators; but these were so numerous that some hundreds

were forced to attend in the court and outward rooms of the

palace. I knew, and could distinguish these two heroes, at first

sight, not only from the crowd, but from each other. Homer was

the taller and comelier person of the two, walked very erect for

one of his age, and his eyes were the most quick and piercing I

ever beheld.