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Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening French B2 Translation Books

Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening French B2 Translation Books

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
sérieux
seriousnessandclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?
Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
philosophie
philosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlya
noble
noblepuerilismandtyronism;
andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactually
suffi
sufficedforthebasisofsuchimposingandabsolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopular
superstition
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-
andego-superstition,hasnotyet
cessé
ceaseddoingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
tromperie
deceptiononthepartof
grammaire
grammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.
The
philosophie
philosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,and
patience
patiencehavebeenspentthanonany
réelle
actualsciencehitherto:
weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleofarchitecture.
Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
errer
wanderabouttheearthasenormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:
dogmatic
philosophie
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—for
exemple
instance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.
Letusnotbeungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybe
avoué
confessedthattheworst,themosttiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato'sinventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.
Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreath
librement
freelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthis
erreur
errorhasfostered.
Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthe
déni
denialofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;
indeedonemightask,asa
médecin
physician:
"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthatfinestproductofantiquity,Plato?
Hadthe
méchant
wickedSocratesreallycorruptedhim?
WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiasticaloppressionofmillenniumsof
Christianisme
Christianity(FORCHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),
produit
producedinEuropeamagnificent
tension
tensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywhere
auparavant
previously;
withsuchatenselystrainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
tension
tensionasastateof
détresse
distress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:
oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
démocratique
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidof
liberté
libertyofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!
(TheGermans
inventé
inventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—they
inventé
inventedprinting.)
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,norevensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthe
détresse
distressofspiritandallthe
tension
tensionofitsbow!
Andperhapsalsothe
flèche
arrow,theduty,and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Chapitre
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS
1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
tenter
temptustomanyahazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!
Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardly
commencé
commenced.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
patience
patience,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
arrêt
haltatthequestionastotheoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoan
absolu
absolutestandstillbeforeayetmore
fondamentale
fundamentalquestion.
WeinquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.
Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
Anduncertainty?
Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobea
rendez-vous
rendezvousofquestionsandnotesofinterrogation.
Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutoferror?
ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewillto
tromperie
deception?
orthegenerousdeedoutofselfishness?
orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Such
genèse
genesisisimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitisafool,nay,worsethanafool;
thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferent
origine
origin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,
séduisant
seductive,illusory,paltryworld,inthis
tourmente
turmoilofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.
ButratherinthelapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—This
mode
modeofreasoningdisclosesthe
typique
typicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,this
mode
modeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheir
logique
logicalprocedure;
throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
solennellement
solemnlychristened"theTruth."
The
fondamentale
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHE
Croyance
BELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.
Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
seuil
threshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
thoughtheyhadmadea
solennel
solemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."
Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
and
deuxièmement
secondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
sceau
seal,arenotperhapsmerelysuperficialestimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowan
expression
expressioncurrentamongpainters.
In
malgré
spiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmore
fondamentale
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbeassignedtopretence,tothewilltodelusion,toselfishness,andcupidity.
ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consistspreciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparently
opposées
opposedthings—perhapseveninbeing
essentiellement
essentiallyidenticalwiththem.
Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
attendre
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.
Andtospeakinall
sérieux
seriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartofconsciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseof
philosophique
philosophicalthinking;
onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesinto
considération
considerationinthewholeprocessand
procédure
procedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"
Opposé
OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinany
décisif
decisivesense;
thegreaterpartoftheconsciousthinkingofa
philosophe
philosopherissecretlyinfluencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.
Andbehindall
logique
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmore
clairement
plainly,physiologicaldemands,forthe
maintien
maintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,in
dépit
spiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthe
maintien
maintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.
Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusany
objection
objectiontoit:
itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmoststrangely.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fondamentalement
fundamentallyinclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithouta
reconnaissance
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withoutacomparisonofrealitywiththe
purement
purelyIMAGINEDworldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,withouta
constante
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.
TO
Reconnaître
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;
thatiscertainlytoimpugnthetraditionalideasofvalueinadangerous
manière
manner,andaphilosophywhichventurestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.
5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstoberegardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeated
découverte
discoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howchildishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudand
vertueux
virtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.
Theyall
posent
poseasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeendiscoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(incontrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudicedproposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichis
généralement
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.
Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtoberegardedassuch,
généralement
generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthe
conscience
consciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendorfoe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.
ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equally
rigide
stiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(more
correctement
correctlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmallamusementinspyingoutthesubtletricksofoldmoralistsandethicalpreachers.
Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusin
mathématique
mathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
philosophie
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"to
traduire
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostrike
terreur
terroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocastaglanceonthat
invincible
invinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluse
trahit
betray!
6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
philosophie
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,the
confession
confessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandunconsciousauto-biography;
andmoreoverthatthe
moral
moral(orimmoral)purposeinevery
philosophie
philosophyhasconstitutedthetrue
vital
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.
Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
philosophe
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:
"What
moralité
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"
Par conséquent
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatherof
philosophie
philosophy;
butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
ailleurs
elsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)
asan
instrument
instrument.
Butwhoeverconsidersthefundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewto
déterminer
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticed
philosophie
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfasthe
ultime
ultimateendofexistenceandthe
légitime
legitimateLORDoveralltheotherimpulses.
Forevery
impulsion
impulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.
Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreallyscientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,independentclock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.
Theactual"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,are
généralement
generallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;
itis,infact,almost
indifférent
indifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoung
ouvrier
workerbecomesagoodphilologist,amushroomspecialist,ora
chimiste
chemist;
heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
philosophe
philosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moralité
moralityfurnishesadecidedand
décisif
decisivetestimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.
7.
How
malveillants
maliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthe
liberté
libertyofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
véritable
genuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).
Andthe
dernier
latterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewas
agacé
annoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!
He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutofrageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!
Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
philosophie
philosophyatwhichthe"conviction"ofthe
philosophe
philosopherappearsonthescene;
or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
fraude
fraudofwords!
ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlessly
extravagant
extravagant,boundlesslyindifferent,withoutpurposeor
considération
consideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfuland
stérile
barrenanduncertain:
imaginetoyourselves
Indifférence
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyoulivein
accord
accordancewithsuchindifference?
Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,being
injuste
unjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Andgrantedthatyour
impératif
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudo
Différemment
DIFFERENTLY?
Whyshouldyoumakea
principe
principleoutofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?
Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
canon
canonofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethecontrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!
Inyourprideyouwishto
dicter
dictateyourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;
you
insistez
insistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asavast,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!
Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andtocrownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:
isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldand
éternelle
everlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
philosophie
philosophybeginstobelieveinitself.
Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
philosophie
philosophyisthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themost
spirituelle
spiritualWilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausa
prima
prima.
10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandtheapparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;
andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
vanter
boastofthesharpestears.
Inrareandisolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertain
extravagant
extravagantandadventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambitionoftheforlornhope—has
participé
participatedtherein:
thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
poignée
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;
theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
conscience
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanuncertainsomething.
ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
vertu
virtuemaydisplay.
Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestilleagerforlife.
InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
crédibilité
credibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthe
crédibilité
credibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurest
possession
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefirmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwas
autrefois
formerlyanevensecurerpossession,somethingoftheolddomainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?
ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthis
mode
modeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeen
construit
constructedyesterdayandtoday;
thereisperhapssomeslightadmixtureofsatietyand
mépris
scorn,whichcannolonger
supporter
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvariedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;
a
dégoût
disgustofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.
Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
instinct
instinct,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...
whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,andartisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!
11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
détourner
divertattentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGerman
philosophie
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.
Kantwasfirstand
tout
foremostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbeundertakenon
nom
behalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Découvert
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,the
faculté
facultyofsyntheticjudgmentapriori.
Grantingthathe
trompé
deceivedhimselfinthismatter;
the
développement
developmentandrapidflourishingofGerman
philosophie
philosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationto
découvrir
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletus
réfléchissons
reflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso.
"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuch
affichage
displayofGermanprofundityandverbalflourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.
Peoplewerebesidethemselveswithdelightoverthisnew
faculté
faculty,andthejubilationreachedits
apogée
climaxwhenKantfurtherdiscovereda
morale
moralfacultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestill
morale
moral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."
ThencamethehoneymoonofGerman
philosophie
philosophy.
AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstill
jeune
youthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,themaliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyetdistinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!
Abovealla
faculté
facultyforthe"transcendental";
Schellingchristenedit,
intellectuelle
intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthe
naturellement
naturallypious-inclinedGermans.
Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
excentrique
eccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatit
déguisait
disguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwith
morale
moralindignation.
Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
disparu
vanished.
Atimecamewhenpeoplerubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystillrubthemtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
explication
explanation?
Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
à savoir
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.
Butsuchrepliesbelongtotherealmof
comédie
comedy,anditishightimeto
remplacer
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"
byanotherquestion,"Whyis
croyance
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthe
préservation
preservationofcreatureslikeourselves;
thoughtheystillmight
naturellement
naturallybefalsejudgments!
Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
grossièrement
roughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;
wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
croyance
beliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausible
croyance
beliefandocularevidencebelongingtothe
perspective
perspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindtheenormous
influence
influencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;
thankstoGerman
philosophie
philosophy,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,the
vertueux
virtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindan
antidote
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...