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
basisofsuchimposingandabsolute
absolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:perhapssomepopular
bijgeloof
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-andego-superstition,hasnotyet
opgehouden
ceaseddoingmischief):perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
bedrog
deceptiononthepartofgrammatica
grammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.The
filosofie
philosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologie
astrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,andgeduld
patiencehavebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleof
architectuur
architecture.Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartof
mensheid
humanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirsttodwalen
wanderabouttheearthasenorme
enormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:dogmatic
filosofie
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—forinstance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.Letusnotbe
ondankbaar
ungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthattheworst,themosttiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato'suitvinding
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(FORChristendom
CHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),produceerde
producedinEuropeamagnificentspanning
tensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywhereeerder
previously;withsuchatensely
gespannen
strainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
spanning
tensionasastateofdistress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
democratische
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidofvrijheid
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.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
verleiden
temptustomanyagevaarlijke
hazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardly
begonnen
commenced.Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
geduld
patience,andturnimpatientlyaway?ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
stilstand
haltatthequestionastotheoorsprong
originofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoanabsolute
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,inthisonrust
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
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHEGeloof
BELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
drempel
threshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);thoughtheyhadmadea
plechtige
solemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
and
ten tweede
secondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheirzegel
seal,arenotperhapsmerelyoppervlakkige
superficialestimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanuitdrukking
expressioncurrentamongpainters.In
ondanks
spiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmorefundamentele
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbetoegekend
assignedtopretence,tothewilltodelusion,tozelfzucht
selfishness,andcupidity.ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consistspreciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeing
wezen
essentiallyidenticalwiththem.Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
wachten
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,theomgekeerde
reverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.Andtospeakinallseriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
bewuste
consciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseoffilosofische
philosophicalthinking;onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesintoconsiderationinthewholeprocessand
procedure
procedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinanybeslissende
decisivesense;thegreaterpartofthe
bewuste
consciousthinkingofaphilosopherissecretlybeïnvloed
influencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.Andbehindall
logica
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmoreplainly,physiologicaldemands,forthebehoud
maintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusie
illusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthebehoud
maintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusanyobjectiontoit:
itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmoststrangely.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fundamenteel
fundamentallyinclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithoutaerkenning
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withoutavergelijking
comparisonofrealitywiththezuiver
purelyIMAGINEDworldoftheabsolute
absoluteandimmutable,withoutavoortdurende
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.TO
Erkennen
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;thatiscertainlytoimpugnthe
traditionele
traditionalideasofvalueinadangerousmanier
manner,andaphilosophywhichventurestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
beschouwd
regardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeatedontdekking
discoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howkinderachtig
childishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudanddeugdzame
virtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeen
ontdekt
discoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(integenstelling
contrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudicedstelling
proposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichisalgemeen
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtobe
beschouwd
regardedassuch,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthegeweten
consciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendorvijand
foe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.The
schouwspel
spectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equallystijf
stiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmallvermaak
amusementinspyingoutthesubtiele
subtletricksofoldmoralistsandethische
ethicalpreachers.Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusin
wiskundige
mathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhisfilosofie
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"tovertalen
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocastablik
glanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluseverraadt
betray!6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofie
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,thebekentenis
confessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandonbewuste
unconsciousauto-biography;andmoreoverthatthe
morele
moral(orimmoral)purposeineveryfilosofie
philosophyhasconstitutedthetruevitale
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosoof
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:"What
moraliteit
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"Bijgevolg
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatheroffilosofie
philosophy;butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
elders
elsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)asan
instrument
instrument.Butwhoeverconsidersthe
fundamentele
fundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewtovaststellen
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticedfilosofie
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfastheuiteindelijke
ultimateendofexistenceandthewettige
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,arealgemeen
generallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;itis,infact,almost
onverschillig
indifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoungarbeider
workerbecomesagoodphilologist,amushroomspecialist
specialist,orachemist;heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
filosoof
philosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;andaboveall,his
moraal
moralityfurnishesadecidedanddecisivegetuigenis
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"ofthefilosoof
philosopherappearsonthescene;or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
bedrog
fraudofwords!ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlessly
onverschillig
indifferent,withoutpurposeorconsideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfulandonvruchtbaar
barrenanduncertain:imaginetoyourselves
Onverschilligheid
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyouliveinovereenstemming
accordancewithsuchindifference?Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,being
beperkt
limited,endeavouringtobedifferent?Andgrantedthatyour
imperatief
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudoAnders
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,themostspirituele
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'sambitie
ambitionoftheforlornhope—hasdeelgenomen
participatedtherein:thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
handvol
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
geweten
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanonzeker
uncertainsomething.ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
deugd
virtuemaydisplay.Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestill
enthousiast
eagerforlife.InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
geloofwaardigheid
credibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthegeloofwaardigheid
credibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurestbezit
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefirmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasvroeger
formerlyanevensecurerpossession,somethingoftheolddomein
domainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthismodeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeen
gebouwd
constructedyesterdayandtoday;thereisperhapssome
lichte
slightadmixtureofsatietyandminachting
scorn,whichcannolongerverdragen
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvariedoorsprong
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
divertattentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGermanfilosofie
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbe
ondernomen
undertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Ontdekt
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,thefacultyofsyntheticoordeel
judgmentapriori.Grantingthathe
bedrogen
deceivedhimselfinthismatter;the
ontwikkeling
developmentandrapidflourishingofGermanfilosofie
philosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationtoontdekken
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso."HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuch
vertoning
displayofGermanprofundityandverbale
verbalflourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
vreugde
delightoverthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreacheditshoogtepunt
climaxwhenKantfurtherdiscoveredamoralfaculteit
facultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."Thencamethe
huwelijksreis
honeymoonofGermanphilosophy.AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,the
kwaadaardige
maliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyetonderscheiden
distinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!Abovealla
faculteit
facultyforthe"transcendental";Schellingchristenedit,
intellectuele
intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthenature
naturallypious-inclinedGermans.Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
excentrieke
eccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatitvermomde
disguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwithmorele
moralindignation.Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
verdween
vanished.Atimecamewhenpeople
wreven
rubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystillwreven
rubthemtoday.Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
uitleg
explanation?Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
namelijk
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
rijk
realmofcomedy,anditishightimetovervangen
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"byanotherquestion,"Whyis
geloof
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthebehoud
preservationofcreatureslikeourselves;thoughtheystillmight
natuurlijk
naturallybefalsejudgments!Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
ruwweg
roughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
geloof
beliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausiblegeloof
beliefandocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.Andfinally,tocalltomindthe
enorme
enormousinfluencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;thankstoGerman
filosofie
philosophy,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindantegengif
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...