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Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
ernst
seriousnessandclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?
Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
filosofie
philosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlyanoblepuerilismandtyronism;
andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthe
basis
basisofsuchimposingand
absolute
absolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopular
bijgeloof
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-
andego-superstition,hasnotyet
opgehouden
ceaseddoingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
bedrog
deceptiononthepartof
grammatica
grammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.
The
filosofie
philosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswas
astrologie
astrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,and
geduld
patiencehavebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:
weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleof
architectuur
architecture.
Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartof
mensheid
humanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
dwalen
wanderabouttheearthas
enorme
enormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:
dogmatic
filosofie
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—forinstance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.
Letusnotbe
ondankbaar
ungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthattheworst,themosttiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato's
uitvinding
inventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.
Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreathfreelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthiserrorhas
bevorderd
fostered.
Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthe
ontkenning
denialofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;
indeedonemightask,asaphysician:
"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthat
beste
finestproductofantiquity,Plato?
Hadthe
boze
wickedSocratesreallycorruptedhim?
WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiastical
onderdrukking
oppressionofmillenniumsofChristianity(FOR
Christendom
CHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),
produceerde
producedinEuropeamagnificent
spanning
tensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywhere
eerder
previously;
withsuchatensely
gespannen
strainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
spanning
tensionasastateofdistress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:
oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
democratische
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidof
vrijheid
libertyofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!
(TheGermans
uitgevonden
inventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—theyinventedprinting.)
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,norevensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthedistressofspiritandallthe
spanning
tensionofitsbow!
Andperhapsalsothe
pijl
arrow,theduty,and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Hoofdstuk
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS
1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
verleiden
temptustomanya
gevaarlijke
hazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!
Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardly
begonnen
commenced.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
geduld
patience,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
stilstand
haltatthequestionastothe
oorsprong
originofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoan
absolute
absolutestandstillbeforeayetmorefundamentalquestion.
We
vroegen
inquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.
Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
And
onzekerheid
uncertainty?
Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobearendezvousofquestionsandnotesof
ondervraging
interrogation.
Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutoferror?
ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewillto
bedrog
deception?
orthegenerousdeedoutof
zelfzucht
selfishness?
orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Suchgenesisisimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitisafool,nay,worsethanafool;
thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferent
oorsprong
origin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,
verleidelijke
seductive,illusory,paltryworld,inthis
onrust
turmoilofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.
Butratherinthe
schoot
lapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—Thismodeofreasoningdisclosesthetypicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,thismodeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheirlogicalprocedure;
throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
plechtig
solemnlychristened"theTruth."
The
fundamentele
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHE
Geloof
BELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.
Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
drempel
threshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
thoughtheyhadmadea
plechtige
solemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."
Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
and
ten tweede
secondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
zegel
seal,arenotperhapsmerely
oppervlakkige
superficialestimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowan
uitdrukking
expressioncurrentamongpainters.
In
ondanks
spiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmore
fundamentele
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbe
toegekend
assignedtopretence,tothewilltodelusion,to
zelfzucht
selfishness,andcupidity.
ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consistspreciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeing
wezen
essentiallyidenticalwiththem.
Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
wachten
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,the
omgekeerde
reverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.
Andtospeakinallseriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
bewuste
consciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseof
filosofische
philosophicalthinking;
onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesintoconsiderationinthewholeprocessand
procedure
procedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinany
beslissende
decisivesense;
thegreaterpartofthe
bewuste
consciousthinkingofaphilosopherissecretly
beïnvloed
influencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.
Andbehindall
logica
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmoreplainly,physiologicaldemands,forthe
behoud
maintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,that
illusie
illusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthe
behoud
maintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.
Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusanyobjectiontoit:
itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmoststrangely.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fundamenteel
fundamentallyinclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithouta
erkenning
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withouta
vergelijking
comparisonofrealitywiththe
zuiver
purelyIMAGINEDworldofthe
absolute
absoluteandimmutable,withouta
voortdurende
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.
TO
Erkennen
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;
thatiscertainlytoimpugnthe
traditionele
traditionalideasofvalueinadangerous
manier
manner,andaphilosophywhichventurestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.
5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
beschouwd
regardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeated
ontdekking
discoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,how
kinderachtig
childishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudand
deugdzame
virtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.
Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeen
ontdekt
discoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(in
tegenstelling
contrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudiced
stelling
proposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichis
algemeen
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.
Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtobe
beschouwd
regardedassuch,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthe
geweten
consciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendor
vijand
foe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.
The
schouwspel
spectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equally
stijf
stiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmall
vermaak
amusementinspyingoutthe
subtiele
subtletricksofoldmoralistsand
ethische
ethicalpreachers.
Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusin
wiskundige
mathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofie
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"to
vertalen
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocasta
blik
glanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluse
verraadt
betray!
6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofie
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,the
bekentenis
confessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryand
onbewuste
unconsciousauto-biography;
andmoreoverthatthe
morele
moral(orimmoral)purposeinevery
filosofie
philosophyhasconstitutedthetrue
vitale
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.
Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosoof
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:
"What
moraliteit
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"
Bijgevolg
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatherof
filosofie
philosophy;
butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
elders
elsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)
asan
instrument
instrument.
Butwhoeverconsidersthe
fundamentele
fundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewto
vaststellen
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticed
filosofie
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfasthe
uiteindelijke
ultimateendofexistenceandthe
wettige
legitimateLORDoveralltheotherimpulses.
Forevery
impuls
impulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.
Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreally
wetenschappelijke
scientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
onafhankelijk
independentclock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.
The
werkelijke
actual"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,are
algemeen
generallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;
itis,infact,almost
onverschillig
indifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoung
arbeider
workerbecomesagoodphilologist,amushroom
specialist
specialist,orachemist;
heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
filosoof
philosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moraal
moralityfurnishesadecidedanddecisive
getuigenis
testimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.
7.
Howmaliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthe
vrijheid
libertyofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
echt
genuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).
Andthe
laatste
latterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewas
geïrriteerd
annoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!
He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
woede
rageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!
Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofie
philosophyatwhichthe"conviction"ofthe
filosoof
philosopherappearsonthescene;
or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
bedrog
fraudofwords!
ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlessly
onverschillig
indifferent,withoutpurposeorconsideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfuland
onvruchtbaar
barrenanduncertain:
imaginetoyourselves
Onverschilligheid
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyoulivein
overeenstemming
accordancewithsuchindifference?
Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,being
beperkt
limited,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Andgrantedthatyour
imperatief
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudo
Anders
DIFFERENTLY?
Whyshouldyoumakea
beginsel
principleoutofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?
Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
canon
canonofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethecontrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!
Inyourprideyouwishto
dicteren
dictateyourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;
youinsistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asa
enorme
vast,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!
Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andtocrownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:
isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldand
eeuwigdurend
everlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofie
philosophybeginstobelieveinitself.
Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
filosofie
philosophyisthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themost
spirituele
spiritualWilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima.
10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandthe
schijnbare
apparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;
andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
beroemen
boastofthesharpestears.
Inrareandisolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertain
extravagante
extravagantandadventurouspluck,ametaphysician's
ambitie
ambitionoftheforlornhope—has
deelgenomen
participatedtherein:
thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
handvol
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;
theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
geweten
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninan
onzeker
uncertainsomething.
ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
deugd
virtuemaydisplay.
Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestill
enthousiast
eagerforlife.
InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
geloofwaardigheid
credibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthe
geloofwaardigheid
credibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurest
bezit
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefirmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwas
vroeger
formerlyanevensecurerpossession,somethingoftheold
domein
domainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?
ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthismodeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeen
gebouwd
constructedyesterdayandtoday;
thereisperhapssome
lichte
slightadmixtureofsatietyand
minachting
scorn,whichcannolonger
verdragen
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvaried
oorsprong
origin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;
a
walging
disgustofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.
Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
instinct
instinct,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...
whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
artistieke
artisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!
11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
leiden
divertattentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGerman
filosofie
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.
KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbe
ondernomen
undertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Ontdekt
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,thefacultyofsynthetic
oordeel
judgmentapriori.
Grantingthathe
bedrogen
deceivedhimselfinthismatter;
the
ontwikkeling
developmentandrapidflourishingofGerman
filosofie
philosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationto
ontdekken
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso.
"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuch
vertoning
displayofGermanprofundityand
verbale
verbalflourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.
Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
vreugde
delightoverthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreachedits
hoogtepunt
climaxwhenKantfurtherdiscoveredamoral
faculteit
facultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."
Thencamethe
huwelijksreis
honeymoonofGermanphilosophy.
AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,the
kwaadaardige
maliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyet
onderscheiden
distinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!
Abovealla
faculteit
facultyforthe"transcendental";
Schellingchristenedit,
intellectuele
intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthe
nature
naturallypious-inclinedGermans.
Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
excentrieke
eccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatit
vermomde
disguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwith
morele
moralindignation.
Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
verdween
vanished.
Atimecamewhenpeople
wreven
rubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystill
wreven
rubthemtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
uitleg
explanation?
Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
namelijk
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.
Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
rijk
realmofcomedy,anditishightimeto
vervangen
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"
byanotherquestion,"Whyis
geloof
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthe
behoud
preservationofcreatureslikeourselves;
thoughtheystillmight
natuurlijk
naturallybefalsejudgments!
Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
ruwweg
roughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;
wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
geloof
beliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausible
geloof
beliefandocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindthe
enorme
enormousinfluencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;
thankstoGerman
filosofie
philosophy,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindan
tegengif
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...