Ethics, theology, and classic literature, were his favourite studies.

The finely conceived ethics of Höffding (p. 585) is an exception to the rule which is the object of this remark.

Like Socrates, however, ethics were the great subject of his inquiries, to which physics were only subordinate.

Thus faith is based upon duty without being itself duty: ethics is the basis of religion, which consists in our regarding moral laws as (instar, as if they were) divine commands.