This « contribution to the old doctrine of principles » has the form of a topology ; it aims to determine the roots of the principles which exert their hegemony on the Western history, and explains that these principles set the limits of the metaphysical age which we are now seeing decline. They distinguish three hegemonies (the Greek one, the Latin one, and the Modern one) and three different principles which rule them : the One, the Nature and the self-consciousness. Besides, Schürmann connects these three different historical principles to two ultimate ones forming what he calls the « absolutely first phenomenon » : the tragic division. The main issue of his topology is to teach us more about the nights which darkened the terrible 20th century and about those which threaten us.