PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
alvor
seriousnessandclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizinginphilosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlya
ædel
noblepuerilismandtyronism;andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthebasisofsuchimposingandabsolute
filosofiske
philosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:perhapssomepopular
overtro
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-andego-superstition,hasnotyetceaseddoingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
bedrag
deceptiononthepartofgrammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.The
filosofi
philosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,andtålmodighed
patiencehavebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleof
arkitektur
architecture.Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
vandre
wanderabouttheearthasenorme
enormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:dogmatic
filosofi
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—foreksempel
instance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.Letusnotbeungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthattheworst,themost
trættende
tiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato'sopfindelse
inventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreath
frit
freelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthisfejl
errorhasfostered.Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthedenialofthePERSPECTIVE—the
grundlæggende
fundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;indeedonemightask,asa
læge
physician:"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthat
fineste
finestproductofantiquity,Plato?Hadthe
onde
wickedSocratesreallycorruptedhim?WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiastical
undertrykkelse
oppressionofmillenniumsofChristianity(FORKristendommen
CHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),producedinEuropeastorslået
magnificenttensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywheretidligere
previously;withsuchatenselystrainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
spænding
tensionasastateofnød
distress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
demokratisk
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidoflibertyofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!(TheGermans
opfandt
inventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!buttheyagainmadethingssquare—they
opfandt
inventedprinting.)Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,noreven
tilstrækkeligt
sufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthenød
distressofspiritandallthespænding
tensionofitsbow!Andperhapsalsothearrow,theduty,and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Kapitel
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
friste
temptustomanyafarlige
hazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardly
begyndt
commenced.Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,losepatience,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
InfactwemadealonghaltatthequestionastotheoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoan
absolut
absolutestandstillbeforeayetmorefundamentalquestion.We
spurgte
inquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
And
usikkerhed
uncertainty?Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobea
rendezvous
rendezvousofquestionsandnotesofafhøring
interrogation.Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutof
fejl
error?ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewillto
bedrag
deception?orthegenerousdeedoutof
selviskhed
selfishness?orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Suchgenesisisimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitisafool,
nej
nay,worsethanafool;thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferent
oprindelse
origin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,forførende
seductive,illusory,paltryworld,inthisuro
turmoilofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.Butratherinthe
skød
lapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—Thismåde
modeofreasoningdisclosesthetypicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,thismåde
modeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheirlogiske
logicalprocedure;throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
højtideligt
solemnlychristened"theTruth."The
grundlæggende
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHEBELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereontheverythreshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
thoughtheyhadmadeasolemn
løfte
vow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
andsecondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
segl
seal,arenotperhapsmerelyoverfladiske
superficialestimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanudtryk
expressioncurrentamongpainters.In
trods
spiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmoregrundlæggende
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbeassignedtopretence,tothewilltoillusion
delusion,toselfishness,andcupidity.ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consists
netop
preciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeingessentiallyidentiske
identicalwiththem.Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
vente
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.Andtospeakinall
alvor
seriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
bevidst
consciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseofphilosophicalthinking;onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesinto
betragtning
considerationinthewholeprocessandfremgangsmåde
procedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinanyafgørende
decisivesense;thegreaterpartoftheconsciousthinkingofaphilosopheris
hemmeligt
secretlyinfluencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.Andbehindall
logik
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmoreplainly,physiologicaldemands,fortheopretholdelsen
maintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,introds
spiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlyoverfladiske
superficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryfortheopretholdelsen
maintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusany
indvending
objectiontoit:itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmost
mærkeligt
strangely.Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
grundlæggende
fundamentallyinclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithoutaanerkendelse
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withoutasammenligning
comparisonofrealitywiththerent
purelyIMAGINEDworldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,withoutakonstant
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.TO
Anerkende
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;thatiscertainlytoimpugnthe
traditionelle
traditionalideasofvalueinadangerousmåde
manner,andaphilosophywhichvover
venturestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
betragtet
regardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeatedopdagelse
discoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howbarnlige
childishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudandvirtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeen
opdaget
discoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(incontrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudicedproposition
proposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichisgenerelt
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtobe
betragtet
regardedassuch,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingtheconsciencewhichmodigt
bravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendorfjende
foe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,
lige
equallystiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morekorrekt
correctlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmallamusementinspyingoutthesubtile
subtletricksofoldmoralistsandetiske
ethicalpreachers.Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusinmathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofi
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"tooversætte
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerror
terroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocastablik
glanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluseforråder
betray!6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofi
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,theconfessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandubevidst
unconsciousauto-biography;andmoreoverthatthe
moralske
moral(orimmoral)purposeineveryfilosofi
philosophyhasconstitutedthetruevitale
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosof
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:"What
moral
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"Derfor
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatherofphilosophy;butthatanother
impuls
impulse,hereaselsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)asan
instrument
instrument.Butwhoeverconsidersthe
grundlæggende
fundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewtoafgøre
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticedfilosofi
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfastheultimative
ultimateendofexistenceandthelegitime
legitimateLORDoveralltheotherimpulses.Forevery
impuls
impulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreally
videnskabelige
scientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
uafhængig
independentclock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.The
egentlige
actual"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,aregenerelt
generallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;itis,infact,almostindifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthe
håbefulde
hopefulyoungworkerbecomesagoodphilologist,amushroomspecialist,orakemiker
chemist;heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthephilosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moral
moralityfurnishesadecidedandafgørende
decisivetestimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.7.
How
ondsindede
maliciousphilosopherscanbe!IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthelibertyofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
ægte
genuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).Andthe
sidstnævnte
latterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:hewas
irriteret
annoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
vrede
rageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofi
philosophyatwhichthe"conviction"ofthephilosopherappearsonthescene;or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,you
ædle
nobleStoics,whatfraudofwords!ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlesslyindifferent,withoutpurposeor
overvejelse
consideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfulandufrugtbar
barrenanduncertain:imaginetoyourselves
Ligegyldighed
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyouliveinoverensstemmelse
accordancewithsuchindifference?Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,being
uretfærdig
unjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?Andgrantedthatyour
imperativ
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudoAnderledes
DIFFERENTLY?Whyshouldyoumakea
princip
principleoutofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethecanonofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethe
modsatte
contrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!Inyourprideyouwishto
diktere
dictateyourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;you
insisterer
insistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asavast,evig
eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andto
krone
crownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldandeverlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofi
philosophybeginstobelieveinitself.Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
philosophyisthistyrannical
impuls
impulseitself,themostspiritualWilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima.10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandthe
tilsyneladende
apparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
prale
boastofthesharpestears.Inrareand
isolerede
isolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertainextravagantandadventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambition
ambitionoftheforlornhope—hasparticipatedtherein:thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
håndfuld
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
samvittighed
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanuncertainsomething.ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofa
fortvivlet
despairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsuchadyd
virtuemaydisplay.Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestill
ivrige efter
eagerforlife.InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthatthey
rangerer
rankthecredibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthecredibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurestbesiddelse
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefast
firmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasformerlyanevensecurerbesiddelse
possession,somethingoftheolddomæne
domainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthis
måde
modeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeenbygget
constructedyesterdayandtoday;thereisperhapssome
lille
slightadmixtureofsatietyandforagt
scorn,whichcannolongerudholde
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvarierede
variedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;a
afsky
disgustofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
instinkt
instinct,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
kunstnerisk
artisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
aflede
divertattentionfromtheactualindflydelse
influencewhichKantexercisedonGermanfilosofi
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.Kantwasfirstand
fremmest
foremostproudofhisTableofCategories;withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbeundertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Opdaget
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,thefacultyofsyntheticdom
judgmentapriori.Grantingthathedeceivedhimselfinthismatter;
the
udvikling
developmentandrapidflourishingofGermanphilosophydependeddog
neverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationtoopdage
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso."HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuchdisplayofGermanprofundityandverbal
blomstrer
flourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
glæde
delightoverthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreacheditshøjdepunkt
climaxwhenKantfurtherdiscoveredamoralfakultet
facultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."Thencamethe
bryllupsrejse
honeymoonofGermanphilosophy.AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,the
ondsindede
maliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyetskelne
distinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!Abovealla
fakultet
facultyforthe"transcendental";Schellingchristenedit,intellectual
intuition
intuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthenaturligt
naturallypious-inclinedGermans.Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantandeccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatit
forklædte
disguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwithmoralsk
moralindignation.Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
forsvandt
vanished.Atimecamewhenpeoplerubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystillrubthemtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
forklaring
explanation?Orisitnotrather
blot
merelyarepetitionofthequestion?Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
nemlig
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.Butsuchrepliesbelongtotherealmofcomedy,anditishightimeto
erstatte
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"byanotherquestion,"Whyis
tro
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthepreservationofcreatureslikeourselves;thoughtheystillmight
naturligvis
naturallybefalsejudgments!Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
groft
roughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,thebeliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausiblebeliefandocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindthe
enorme
enormousinfluencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;thankstoGerman
filosofi
philosophy,itwasadelighttotheædle
nobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindanmodgift
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...