Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

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PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
ernst
seriousness
andclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?
Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
filosofie
philosophy
,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlyanoblepuerilismandtyronism;
andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthe
basis
basis
ofsuchimposingand
absolute
absolute
philosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopular
bijgeloof
superstition
ofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-
andego-superstition,hasnotyet
opgehouden
ceased
doingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
bedrog
deception
onthepartof
grammatica
grammar
,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.
The
filosofie
philosophy
ofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswas
astrologie
astrology
instillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,and
geduld
patience
havebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:
weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleof
architectuur
architecture
.
Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartof
mensheid
humanity
witheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
dwalen
wander
abouttheearthas
enorme
enormous
andawe-inspiringcaricatures:
dogmatic
filosofie
philosophy
hasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—forinstance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.
Letusnotbe
ondankbaar
ungrateful
toit,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthattheworst,themosttiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato's
uitvinding
invention
ofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.
Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreathfreelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthiserrorhas
bevorderd
fostered
.
Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthe
ontkenning
denial
ofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;
indeedonemightask,asaphysician:
"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthat
beste
finest
productofantiquity,Plato?
Hadthe
boze
wicked
Socratesreallycorruptedhim?
WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiastical
onderdrukking
oppression
ofmillenniumsofChristianity(FOR
Christendom
CHRISTIANITY
ISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),
produceerde
produced
inEuropeamagnificent
spanning
tension
ofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywhere
eerder
previously
;
withsuchatensely
gespannen
strained
bowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
spanning
tension
asastateofdistress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:
oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
democratische
democratic
enlightenment—which,withtheaidof
vrijheid
liberty
ofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!
(TheGermans
uitgevonden
invented
gunpowder—allcredittothem!
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—theyinventedprinting.)
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,norevensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthedistressofspiritandallthe
spanning
tension
ofitsbow!
Andperhapsalsothe
pijl
arrow
,theduty,and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Hoofdstuk
CHAPTER
I.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS
1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
verleiden
tempt
ustomanya
gevaarlijke
hazardous
enterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!
Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardly
begonnen
commenced
.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
geduld
patience
,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
stilstand
halt
atthequestionastothe
oorsprong
origin
ofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoan
absolute
absolute
standstillbeforeayetmorefundamentalquestion.
We
vroegen
inquired
abouttheVALUEofthisWill.
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
turmoil
ofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.
Butratherinthe
schoot
lap
ofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—Thismodeofreasoningdisclosesthetypicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,thismodeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheirlogicalprocedure;
throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
plechtig
solemnly
christened"theTruth."
The
fundamentele
fundamental
beliefofmetaphysiciansisTHE
Geloof
BELIEF
INANTITHESESOFVALUES.
Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
drempel
threshold
(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
thoughtheyhadmadea
plechtige
solemn
vow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."
Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
and
ten tweede
secondly
,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
zegel
seal
,arenotperhapsmerely
oppervlakkige
superficial
estimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowan
uitdrukking
expression
currentamongpainters.
In
ondanks
spite
ofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmore
fundamentele
fundamental
valueforlifegenerallyshouldbe
toegekend
assigned
topretence,tothewilltodelusion,to
zelfzucht
selfishness
,andcupidity.
ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consistspreciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeing
wezen
essentially
identicalwiththem.
Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
wachten
await
theadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,the
omgekeerde
reverse
ofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.
Andtospeakinallseriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
bewuste
conscious
thinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseof
filosofische
philosophical
thinking;
onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesintoconsiderationinthewholeprocessand
procedure
procedure
ofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinany
beslissende
decisive
sense;
thegreaterpartofthe
bewuste
conscious
thinkingofaphilosopherissecretly
beïnvloed
influenced
byhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.
Andbehindall
logica
logic
anditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmoreplainly,physiologicaldemands,forthe
behoud
maintenance
ofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,that
illusie
illusion
islessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthe
behoud
maintenance
ofbeingssuchasourselves.
Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusanyobjectiontoit:
itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmoststrangely.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fundamenteel
fundamentally
inclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithouta
erkenning
recognition
oflogicalfictions,withouta
vergelijking
comparison
ofrealitywiththe
zuiver
purely
IMAGINEDworldofthe
absolute
absolute
andimmutable,withouta
voortdurende
constant
counterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.
TO
Erkennen
RECOGNISE
UNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;
thatiscertainlytoimpugnthe
traditionele
traditional
ideasofvalueinadangerous
manier
manner
,andaphilosophywhichventurestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.
5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
beschouwd
regarded
half-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeated
ontdekking
discovery
howinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,how
kinderachtig
childish
andchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudand
deugdzame
virtuous
outcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.
Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeen
ontdekt
discovered
andattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(in
tegenstelling
contrast
toallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudiced
stelling
proposition
,idea,or"suggestion,"whichis
algemeen
generally
theirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.
Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtobe
beschouwd
regarded
assuch,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthe
geweten
conscience
whichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendor
vijand
foe
,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.
The
schouwspel
spectacle
oftheTartufferyofoldKant,equally
stijf
stiff
anddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmall
vermaak
amusement
inspyingoutthe
subtiele
subtle
tricksofoldmoralistsand
ethische
ethical
preachers.
Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusin
wiskundige
mathematical
form,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofie
philosophy
inmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"to
vertalen
translate
thetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocasta
blik
glance
onthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluse
verraadt
betray
!
6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofie
philosophy
uptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,the
bekentenis
confession
ofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryand
onbewuste
unconscious
auto-biography;
andmoreoverthatthe
morele
moral
(orimmoral)purposeinevery
filosofie
philosophy
hasconstitutedthetrue
vitale
vital
germoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.
Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosoof
philosopher
havebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:
"What
moraliteit
morality
dothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"
Bijgevolg
Accordingly
,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatherof
filosofie
philosophy
;
butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
elders
elsewhere
,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)
asan
instrument
instrument
.
Butwhoeverconsidersthe
fundamentele
fundamental
impulsesofmanwithaviewto
vaststellen
determining
howfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticed
filosofie
philosophy
atonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfasthe
uiteindelijke
ultimate
endofexistenceandthe
wettige
legitimate
LORDoveralltheotherimpulses.
Forevery
impuls
impulse
isimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.
Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreally
wetenschappelijke
scientific
men,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
onafhankelijk
independent
clock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.
The
werkelijke
actual
"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,are
algemeen
generally
inquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;
itis,infact,almost
onverschillig
indifferent
atwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoung
arbeider
worker
becomesagoodphilologist,amushroom
specialist
specialist
,orachemist;
heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
filosoof
philosopher
,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moraal
morality
furnishesadecidedanddecisive
getuigenis
testimony
astoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.
7.
Howmaliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthe
vrijheid
liberty
ofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
echt
genuine
aboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).
Andthe
laatste
latter
isreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewas
geïrriteerd
annoyed
bythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!
He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
woede
rage
andambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!
Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofie
philosophy
atwhichthe"conviction"ofthe
filosoof
philosopher
appearsonthescene;
or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
bedrog
fraud
ofwords!
ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlessly
onverschillig
indifferent
,withoutpurposeorconsideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfuland
onvruchtbaar
barren
anduncertain:
imaginetoyourselves
Onverschilligheid
INDIFFERENCE
asapower—howCOULDyoulivein
overeenstemming
accordance
withsuchindifference?
Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,being
beperkt
limited
,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Andgrantedthatyour
imperatief
imperative
,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudo
Anders
DIFFERENTLY
?
Whyshouldyoumakea
beginsel
principle
outofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?
Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
canon
canon
ofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethecontrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!
Inyourprideyouwishto
dicteren
dictate
yourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;
youinsistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asa
enorme
vast
,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!
Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andtocrownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:
isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldand
eeuwigdurend
everlasting
story:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofie
philosophy
beginstobelieveinitself.
Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
filosofie
philosophy
isthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themost
spirituele
spiritual
WilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima.
10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandthe
schijnbare
apparent
world"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;
andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
beroemen
boast
ofthesharpestears.
Inrareandisolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertain
extravagante
extravagant
andadventurouspluck,ametaphysician's
ambitie
ambition
oftheforlornhope—has
deelgenomen
participated
therein:
thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
handvol
handful
of"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;
theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
geweten
conscience
,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninan
onzeker
uncertain
something.
ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
deugd
virtue
maydisplay.
Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestill
enthousiast
eager
forlife.
InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
geloofwaardigheid
credibility
oftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthe
geloofwaardigheid
credibility
oftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurest
bezit
possession
toescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefirmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwas
vroeger
formerly
anevensecurerpossession,somethingoftheold
domein
domain
ofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?
ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthismodeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeen
gebouwd
constructed
yesterdayandtoday;
thereisperhapssome
lichte
slight
admixtureofsatietyand
minachting
scorn
,whichcannolonger
verdragen
endure
theBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvaried
oorsprong
origin
,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;
a
walging
disgust
ofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.
Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
instinct
instinct
,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...
whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
artistieke
artistic
power,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!
11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
leiden
divert
attentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGerman
filosofie
philosophy
,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.
KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbe
ondernomen
undertaken
onbehalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Ontdekt
DISCOVERED
anewfacultyinman,thefacultyofsynthetic
oordeel
judgment
apriori.
Grantingthathe
bedrogen
deceived
himselfinthismatter;
the
ontwikkeling
development
andrapidflourishingofGerman
filosofie
philosophy
dependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationto
ontdekken
discover
ifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso.
"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuch
vertoning
display
ofGermanprofundityand
verbale
verbal
flourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.
Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
vreugde
delight
overthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreachedits
hoogtepunt
climax
whenKantfurtherdiscoveredamoral
faculteit
faculty
inman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."
Thencamethe
huwelijksreis
honeymoon
ofGermanphilosophy.
AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,the
kwaadaardige
malicious
fairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyet
onderscheiden
distinguish
between"finding"and"inventing"!
Abovealla
faculteit
faculty
forthe"transcendental";
Schellingchristenedit,
intellectuele
intellectual
intuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthe
nature
naturally
pious-inclinedGermans.
Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
excentrieke
eccentric
movement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatit
vermomde
disguised
itselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwith
morele
moral
indignation.
Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
verdween
vanished
.
Atimecamewhenpeople
wreven
rubbed
theirforeheads,andtheystill
wreven
rub
themtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
uitleg
explanation
?
Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
namelijk
namely
thevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.
Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
rijk
realm
ofcomedy,anditishightimeto
vervangen
replace
theKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"
byanotherquestion,"Whyis
geloof
belief
insuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthe
behoud
preservation
ofcreatureslikeourselves;
thoughtheystillmight
natuurlijk
naturally
befalsejudgments!
Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
ruwweg
roughly
andreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;
wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
geloof
belief
intheirtruthisnecessary,asplausible
geloof
belief
andocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindthe
enorme
enormous
influencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;
thankstoGerman
filosofie
philosophy
,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindan
tegengif
antidote
tothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...