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Beyond Good and Evil | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

Beyond Good and Evil | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthis
eine
awoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthat
alle
allphilosophers,insofarasthey
haben
havebeendogmatists,havefailedto
verstehen
understandwomen—thattheterribleseriousness
und
andclumsyimportunitywithwhichthey
haben
haveusuallypaidtheiraddressesto
Wahrheit
Truth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinning
eine
awoman?
Certainlyshehas
nie
neverallowedherselftobewon;
und
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsad
und
anddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintain
dass
thatithasfallen,that
alle
alldogmaliesontheground—naymore,
dass
thatitisatitslastgasp.
Aber
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsfor
hoffen
hopingthatalldogmatizinginphilosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusive
und
anddecidedairsithasassumed,may
sein
havebeenonlyanoblepuerilism
und
andtyronism;
andprobablythe
zeit
timeisathandwhenit
werden
willbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThas
tatsächlich
actuallysufficedforthebasisofsuchimposing
und
andabsolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatists
haben
havehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopularsuperstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-
und
andego-superstition,hasnotyetceaseddoingmischief):
vielleicht
perhapssomeplayuponwords,adeceptionon
der
thepartofgrammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationof
sehr
veryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.
Thephilosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,was
nur
onlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhich
wahrscheinlich
probablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,
und
andpatiencehavebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:
weowetoit,
und
andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsia
und
andEgypt,thegrandstyleofarchitecture.
Itseems
dass
thatinordertoinscribethemselvesuponthe
herz
heartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,
alle
allgreatthingshavefirsttowander
über
abouttheearthasenormous
und
andawe-inspiringcaricatures:
dogmaticphilosophyhasbeen
eine
acaricatureofthiskind—forinstance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,
und
andPlatonisminEurope.
Letusnotbeungratefulto
es
it,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthat
der
theworst,themosttiresome,
und
andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeen
ein
adogmatisterror—namely,Plato'sinventionofPureSpirit
und
andtheGoodinItself.
Aber
Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,
wenn
whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,
kann
canagaindrawbreathfreely
und
andatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,
wir
we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsof
aller
allthestrengthwhichthestruggle
gegen
againstthiserrorhasfostered.
Itamountedto
der
theveryinversionoftruth,
und
andthedenialofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,to
sprechen
speakofSpiritandthe
Gut
GoodasPlatospokeofthem;
indeedone
könnte
mightask,asaphysician:
"Howdid
solche
suchamaladyattackthatfinestproductofantiquity,Plato?
Had
der
thewickedSocratesreallycorrupted
ihn
him?
WasSocratesafterall
ein
acorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
Aber
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,
und
andforthe"people"—thestruggle
gegen
againsttheecclesiasticaloppressionofmillenniumsofChristianity
Für
(FORCHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),producedinEurope
eine
amagnificenttensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywherepreviously;
withsuchatenselystrainedbow
einem
onecannowaimat
die
thefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeels
diese
thistensionasastateofdistress,
und
andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:
einmal
oncebymeansofJesuitism,
und
andthesecondtimebymeansofdemocraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidoflibertyofthepress
und
andnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitabout
so
thatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!
(TheGermansinventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!
aber
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—theyinventedprinting.)
Aber
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,nor
sogar
evensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,
und
andfree,VERYfreespirits—we
haben
haveitstill,allthedistressofspirit
und
andallthetensionofitsbow!
Und
Andperhapsalsothearrow,theduty,
und
and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS
1.
The
Wille
WilltoTruth,whichistotemptustomanyahazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhich
alle
allphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshas
dieser
thisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!
Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itis
schon
alreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardlycommenced.
Isitanywonder
wenn
ifweatlastgrowdistrustful,
verlieren
losepatience,andturnimpatientlyaway?
Dass
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisit
wirklich
reallythatputsquestionstous
hier
here?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadea
lange
longhaltatthequestionasto
der
theoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwe
kamen
cametoanabsolutestandstill
vor
beforeayetmorefundamental
frage
question.
WeinquiredabouttheVALUEof
dieses
thisWill.
Grantedthatwe
wollen
wantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
Und
Anduncertainty?
Evenignorance?
The
problem
problemofthevalueof
wahrheit
truthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselves
vor
beforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipus
hier
here?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobe
ein
arendezvousofquestionsandnotesofinterrogation.
Und
Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasifthe
problem
problemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscern
es
it,getasightof
es
it,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraising
es
it,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOW
Könnte
COULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,
wahrheit
truthoutoferror?
or
der
theWilltoTruthoutof
der
thewilltodeception?
or
die
thegenerousdeedoutofselfishness?
or
die
thepuresun-brightvisionof
die
thewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Solche
Suchgenesisisimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitis
ein
afool,nay,worsethan
ein
afool;
thingsofthehighestvalue
müssen
musthaveadifferentorigin,anoriginofTHEIRown—in
dieser
thistransitory,seductive,illusory,paltry
welt
world,inthisturmoilofdelusion
und
andcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.
Aber
ButratherinthelapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealed
Gott
God,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,
und
andnowhereelse!"—Thismodeofreasoningdisclosesthetypicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansof
aller
alltimescanberecognized,
diese
thismodeofvaluationisatthebackof
aller
alltheirlogicalprocedure;
throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"for
etwas
somethingthatisintheendsolemnlychristened"theTruth."
ThefundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHEBELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.
Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubt
hier
hereontheverythreshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
obwohl
thoughtheyhadmadeasolemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."
Forit
kann
maybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
und
andsecondly,whetherthepopularvaluations
und
andantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicians
haben
havesettheirseal,arenot
vielleicht
perhapsmerelysuperficialestimates,merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeing
wahrscheinlich
probablymadefromsomecorner,
vielleicht
perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanexpressioncurrentamongpainters.
Inspiteofallthevaluewhich
kann
maybelongtothetrue,thepositive,
und
andtheunselfish,itmightbepossible
dass
thatahigherandmorefundamentalvaluefor
leben
lifegenerallyshouldbeassignedtopretence,tothe
werden
willtodelusion,toselfishness,
und
andcupidity.
Itmightevenbepossible
dass
thatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegood
und
andrespectedthings,consistspreciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,
und
andcrochetedtotheseevil
und
andapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeingessentiallyidenticalwiththem.
Vielleicht
Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigation
einer
onemustawaittheadventofanew
ordnung
orderofphilosophers,suchas
werden
willhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.
Und
Andtospeakinallseriousness,I
sehe
seesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,
und
andhavingreadbetweentheirlines
lange
longenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreater
teil
partofconsciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,
und
anditissoeveninthecaseofphilosophical
denken
thinking;
onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanew
über
aboutheredityand"innateness."
As
wenig
littleastheactofbirthcomesintoconsiderationinthewholeprocess
und
andprocedureofheredity,justas
wenig
littleis"being-conscious"OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinanydecisivesense;
der
thegreaterpartoftheconsciousthinkingofaphilosopherissecretlyinfluencedbyhisinstincts,
und
andforcedintodefinitechannels.
Und
Andbehindalllogicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeak
mehr
moreplainly,physiologicaldemands,forthemaintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,
dass
thatthecertainisworth
mehr
morethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthemaintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.
Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnot
nur
justthe"measureofthings."
4.
Die
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusanyobjectiontoit:
itis
hier
here,perhaps,thatournewlanguage
klingt
soundsmoststrangely.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,
vielleicht
perhapsspecies-rearing,andwearefundamentallyinclinedtomaintain
dass
thatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,
dass
thatwithoutarecognitionoflogicalfictions,
ohne
withoutacomparisonofrealitywiththepurelyIMAGINED
welt
worldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,
ohne
withoutaconstantcounterfeitingofthe
welt
worldbymeansofnumbers,man
könnte
couldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationof
leben
life,anegationoflife.
TORECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;
thatiscertainlytoimpugnthetraditionalideasofvaluein
eine
adangerousmanner,andaphilosophywhichventuresto
tun
doso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyond
gut
goodandevil.
5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstoberegardedhalf-distrustfully
und
andhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeateddiscoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoften
und
andeasilytheymakemistakes
und
andlosetheirway,inshort,howchildish
und
andchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnot
genug
enoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereasthey
alle
allraisealoudandvirtuousoutcry
wenn
whentheproblemoftruthfulnessis
auch
evenhintedatintheremotestmanner.
They
alle
allposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeendiscovered
und
andattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelyindifferentdialectic(incontrastto
alle
allsortsofmystics,who,fairer
und
andfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudicedproposition,
idee
idea,or"suggestion,"whichisgenerallytheirheart'sdesireabstracted
und
andrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtout
nach
aftertheevent.
Theyare
alle
alladvocateswhodonotwishtoberegardedas
solche
such,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—and
Sehr
VERYfarfromhavingtheconsciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,
sehr
veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhich
geht
goessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,
vielleicht
perhapstowarnfriendorfoe,orincheerfulconfidence
und
andself-ridicule.
ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equallystiff
und
anddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofind
nicht
nosmallamusementinspyingoutthesubtletricksofoldmoralists
und
andethicalpreachers.
Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusinmathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhisphilosophyinmail
und
andmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"totranslatethetermfairly
und
andsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerroratonceintothe
herz
heartoftheassailantwho
sollte
shoulddaretocastaglanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—how
viel
muchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerability
tat
doesthismasqueradeofasicklyreclusebetray!
6.
Ithasgraduallybecome
klar
cleartomewhateverygreatphilosophyuptill
jetzt
nowhasconsistedof—namely,theconfessionofitsoriginator,
und
andaspeciesofinvoluntary
und
andunconsciousauto-biography;
andmoreover
dass
thatthemoral(orimmoral)purposein
jeder
everyphilosophyhasconstitutedthetruevitalgerm
aus
outofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.
Indeed,to
verstehen
understandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofaphilosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalways
gut
well(andwise)tofirst
fragen
askoneself:
"Whatmoralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"
Accordingly,Idonot
glaube
believethatan"impulsetoknowledge"is
der
thefatherofphilosophy;
but
dass
thatanotherimpulse,hereaselsewhere,has
nur
onlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)
as
ein
aninstrument.
Butwhoeverconsidersthefundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewtodetermininghowfartheymay
haben
havehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemons
und
andcobolds),willfindthatthey
haben
haveallpracticedphilosophyat
einer
onetimeoranother,andthat
jeder
eachoneofthemwould
haben
havebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfastheultimateendofexistence
und
andthelegitimateLORDover
alle
alltheotherimpulses.
For
jeder
everyimpulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.
Tobe
sicher
sure,inthecaseofscholars,inthe
fall
caseofreallyscientificmen,it
kann
maybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
therethere
kann
mayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"
etwas
somekindofsmall,independentclock-work,which,
wenn
whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,
Ohne
WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterial
teil
parttherein.
Theactual"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,aregenerallyin
ganz
quiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,
vielleicht
perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;
itis,infact,
fast
almostindifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,
und
andwhetherthehopefulyoungworkerbecomes
ein
agoodphilologist,amushroomspecialist,or
ein
achemist;
heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthephilosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutely
nichts
nothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,hismoralityfurnishes
ein
adecidedanddecisivetestimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhat
reihenfolge
orderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnature
stehen
standtoeachother.
7.
Howmaliciousphilosophers
können
canbe!
Iknowof
nichts
nothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthelibertyofmakingonPlato
und
andthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,
und
andonthefaceofit,the
wort
wordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessories
und
andlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisas
viel
muchastosay,"Theyare
alle
allACTORS,thereisnothinggenuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopular
name
nameforanactor).
Andthelatteris
wirklich
reallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewasannoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlato
und
andhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnota
meister
master!
He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,
und
andwrotethreehundredbooks,
vielleicht
perhapsoutofrageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!
Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwho
der
thegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisa
punkt
pointineveryphilosophyatwhich
die
the"conviction"ofthephilosopherappearson
die
thescene;
or,toputitin
den
thewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
Youdesireto
Leben
LIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,whatfraudofwords!
Imaginetoyourselves
ein
abeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlesslyindifferent,
ohne
withoutpurposeorconsideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitful
und
andbarrenanduncertain:
imaginetoyourselvesINDIFFERENCEas
eine
apower—howCOULDyouliveinaccordancewithsuchindifference?
Tolive—isnotthat
nur
justendeavouringtobeotherwise
als
thanthisNature?
Isnot
leben
livingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Und
Andgrantedthatyourimperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"means
eigentlich
actuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—how
könnten
couldyoudoDIFFERENTLY?
Why
solltet
shouldyoumakeaprinciple
aus
outofwhatyouyourselvesare,
und
andmustbe?
Inreality,however,itis
ganz
quiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendto
lesen
readwithrapturethecanonofyourlawinNature,youwant
etwas
somethingquitethecontrary,youextraordinarystage-players
und
andself-deluders!
Inyourprideyouwishtodictateyourmorals
und
andidealstoNature,toNatureherself,
und
andtoincorporatethemtherein;
youinsist
dass
thatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"
und
andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,as
eine
avast,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!
Withallyour
liebe
lovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvesso
lange
long,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigidityto
sehen
seeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouare
nicht
nolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andtocrownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamite
hoffnung
hopethatBECAUSEyouare
in der lage
abletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewill
auch
alsoallowherselftobetyrannized
über
over:
isnottheStoic
ein
aPARTofNature?...
Butthisis
eine
anoldandeverlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswith
den
theStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasever
eine
aphilosophybeginstobelieveinitself.
Italwayscreates
die
theworldinitsownimage;
itcannot
tun
dootherwise;
philosophyisthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themostspiritual
Wille
WilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"the
wille
willtothecausaprima.
10.
Theeagerness
und
andsubtlety,Ishouldeven
sagen
saycraftiness,withwhichthe
problem
problemof"therealandtheapparentworld"is
gibt
dealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthought
und
andattention;
andhewhohears
nur
onlya"WilltoTruth"in
den
thebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainlyboastof
den
thesharpestears.
Inrare
und
andisolatedcases,itmay
wirklich
reallyhavehappenedthatsuch
ein
aWilltoTruth—acertainextravagant
und
andadventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambitionof
der
theforlornhope—hasparticipatedtherein:
thatwhichin
das
theendalwaysprefersahandfulof"certainty"to
eine
awholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;
there
kann
mayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsofconscience,whoprefertoputtheirlast
vertrauen
trustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanuncertain
etwas
something.
ButthatisNihilism,
und
andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearing
solche
suchavirtuemaydisplay.
Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstronger
und
andlivelierthinkerswhoare
immer noch
stilleagerforlife.
In
so
thattheysideAGAINSTappearance,
und
andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"in
so
thattheyrankthecredibilityoftheirownbodies
etwa
aboutaslowasthecredibilityoftheocularevidence
so
that"theearthstandsstill,"
und
andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurestpossessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresent
glaubt
believeinmorefirmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknows
ob
iftheyarenotreally
versuchen
tryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasformerly
ein
anevensecurerpossession,somethingoftheolddomainofthefaithofformertimes,
vielleicht
perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichthey
könnten
couldlivebetter,thatistosay,
noch
morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?
ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasin
dieser
thismodeoflookingatthings,
ein
adisbeliefinallthathasbeenconstructedyesterday
und
andtoday;
thereisperhapssomeslightadmixtureofsatiety
und
andscorn,whichcannolongerenduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvariedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;
adisgustof
der
themorerefinedtasteat
der
thevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereis
nichts
nothingeithernewortrue,except
dieser
thismotleyness.
Thereinitseemstomethatwe
sollten
shouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realists
und
andknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
theirinstinct,
der
whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...
what
tun
dotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
Das
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthatthey
wollen
wishtogo"back,"butthatthey
wollen
wishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
Ein
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,
und
andartisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnot
zurück
back!
11.
ItseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresenttodivertattentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGermanphilosophy,
und
andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.
KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhis
hand
handhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficult
sache
thingthatcouldeverbeundertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."
Lassen
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
HewasproudofhavingDISCOVERED
eine
anewfacultyinman,
die
thefacultyofsyntheticjudgment
eine
apriori.
Grantingthathedeceivedhimselfin
dieser
thismatter;
thedevelopmentandrapidflourishingofGermanphilosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,
und
andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationtodiscover
wenn
ifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso.
"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kant
fragt
askshimself—andwhatisreallyhis
antwort
answer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotin
fünf
fivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,
und
andwithsuchdisplayofGermanprofundity
und
andverbalflourishes,thatonealtogether
verliert
losessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchan
antwort
answer.
Peoplewerebesidethemselveswithdelight
über
overthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreacheditsclimax
als
whenKantfurtherdiscoveredamoralfacultyinman—foratthat
zeit
timeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."
Then
kam
camethehoneymoonofGermanphilosophy.
Alle
AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitution
gingen
wentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Und
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,
und
andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,themaliciousfairy,piped
und
andsang,whenonecouldnotyetdistinguish
zwischen
between"finding"and"inventing"!
Aboveall
eine
afacultyforthe"transcendental";
Schellingchristened
es
it,intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthenaturallypious-inclinedGermans.
One
kann
candonogreaterwrongtothewholeof
dieser
thisexuberantandeccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstanding
so
thatitdisguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoary
und
andsenileconceptions),thanto
nehmen
takeitseriously,oreventreatitwithmoralindignation.
Genug
Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,
und
andthedreamvanished.
A
zeit
timecamewhenpeoplerubbedtheirforeheads,
und
andtheystillrubthem
heute
today.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,
und
andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"By
gemeint
meansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleast
gemeint
meanttosay.
But,isthat—an
antwort
answer?
Anexplanation?
Orisitnotrathermerely
eine
arepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminduce
schlaf
sleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthe
arzt
doctorinMoliere,.
Butsuchrepliesbelongtotherealmofcomedy,
und
anditishightimetoreplacetheKantian
frage
question,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"
byanother
frage
question,"Whyisbeliefin
solche
suchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishigh
zeit
timethatweshouldunderstand
dass
thatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobe
wahr
true,forthesakeofthepreservationofcreatureslikeourselves;
obwohl
thoughtheystillmightnaturallybefalsejudgments!
Or,moreplainlyspoken,
und
androughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriori
sollten
shouldnot"bepossible"atall;
we
haben
havenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyare
nichts
nothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,thebeliefintheir
wahrheit
truthisnecessary,asplausiblebelief
und
andocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewof
leben
life.
Andfinally,tocalltomindtheenormousinfluencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—I
hoffe
hopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubt
dass
thatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhad
ein
ashareinit;
thankstoGermanphilosophy,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,
und
andthepoliticalobscurantistsof
aller
allnations,tofindanantidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyinto
dieses
this,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...