Philosophical studies have, since their first centuries, and for about a thousand years now, consisted only in terminology and syllogism. And because what [philosophers] avidly dwell upon are only terms, such as what "form" is, what "accidents" are, what "modes," and so forth, it cannot but turn out that their mind is bounded only by ideas without any life, because without light. For they do not connect them to rational elements, and those they do so connect are nevertheless mere terms. In arguing for these terms, they are like one who is learning the words of a language, not for the sake of expressing the meaning of a thing, but only for the sake of talking. Thus they so confine and restrict universal elements of the mind into that which has no life, or which is only material, and so doing, form such a dark callus, that no light can pass through. It is similar also with syllogistic philosophy. It so encloses the ideas of the mind, that there is hardly a crack for the light [to enter]. Wise people of this kind are consequently much more blind, even more stupid, in spiritual and heavenly matters, than the least person in the crowd, or than farmers. 1748, 18 February.