S. By digging down to first principles.
F. Ay, there is nothing equal to the spade and pickaxe; ’tis by digging that we can find out whether the world exists or not.
S. That is true, because if we dig to the bottom of the earth and find no foundation, then it is clear that the world stands upon nothing; or, in other words, that it does not stand at all, therefore it stands to reason—
F. But if one can’t believe his own eyes, what signifies talking about it?
S. Our eyes are nothing but the inlets of sensation; we are sure of nothing that we see with our eyes.
F. Well, what does a man begin to build upon in the metaphysical way?
S. Why, he begins by taking something for granted.
F. But is that a sure way of going to work?
S. Why it’s—the—only thing he—can—do. Metaphysics is the consideration of immateriality, or the mere spirit and essence of things. When we speak of essence of things, we mean the essence of locality, the essence of duration—
F. And the essence of peppermint?