PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
serietà
seriousnessandclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
filosofia
philosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlyanobile
noblepuerilismandtyronism;andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthebasisofsuchimposingandabsolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopular
superstizione
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-andego-superstition,hasnotyetceaseddoingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
inganno
deceptiononthepartofgrammatica
grammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.The
filosofia
philosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,andpazienza
patiencehavebeenspentthanonanyreale
actualsciencehitherto:weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleofarchitecture.
Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
vagare
wanderabouttheearthasenormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:dogmatic
filosofia
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—foresempio
instance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.Letusnotbeungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybe
confessare
confessedthattheworst,themostfastidioso
tiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato'sinventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreath
liberamente
freelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthiserrore
errorhasfostered.Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthe
negazione
denialofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;indeedonemightask,asa
medico
physician:"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthatfinestproductofantiquity,Plato?
Hadthe
malvagio
wickedSocratesreallycorruptedhim?WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiasticaloppressionofmillenniumsof
Cristianesimo
Christianity(FORCHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),prodotto
producedinEuropeamagnificenttensione
tensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywherepreviously;withsuchatenselystrainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
tensione
tensionasastateofdistress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
democratico
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidoflibertà
libertyofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!(TheGermans
inventato
inventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!buttheyagainmadethingssquare—they
inventato
inventedprinting.)Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,norevensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthedistressofspiritandallthe
tensione
tensionofitsbow!Andperhapsalsothe
freccia
arrow,theduty,and,whoknows?THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Capitolo
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
tenta
temptustomanyahazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardlycommenced.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
pazienza
patience,andturnimpatientlyaway?ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
fermata
haltatthequestionastotheoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoanabsolutestandstillbeforeayetmorefondamentale
fundamentalquestion.WeinquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.
Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
Anduncertainty?
Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobea
appuntamento
rendezvousofquestionsandnotesofinterrogatorio
interrogation.Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutoferror?
ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewilltodeception?
orthegenerousdeedoutofselfishness?
orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Such
genesi
genesisisimpossible;whoeverdreamsofitisafool,
anzi
nay,worsethanafool;thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferentorigin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,
seducente
seductive,illusory,paltryworld,inthistumulto
turmoilofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.ButratherinthelapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—This
modo
modeofreasoningdisclosesthetipico
typicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,thismodo
modeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheirlogico
logicalprocedure;throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
solennemente
solemnlychristened"theTruth."The
fondamentale
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHECredenza
BELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
soglia
threshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);thoughtheyhadmadea
solenne
solemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."Foritmaybedoubted,
in primo luogo
firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;andsecondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
sigillo
seal,arenotperhapsmerelysuperficialestimates,semplicemente
merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanexpressioncurrentamongpainters.Inspiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmore
fondamentale
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbeassegnato
assignedtopretence,tothewilltoillusione
delusion,toselfishness,andcupidity.ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consists
precisamente
preciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeingessenzialmente
essentiallyidenticalwiththem.Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
attendere
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.Andtospeakinall
serietà
seriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
cosciente
consciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseoffilosofico
philosophicalthinking;onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesinto
considerazione
considerationinthewholeprocessandprocedura
procedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"Opposto
OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinanydecisivo
decisivesense;thegreaterpartofthe
cosciente
consciousthinkingofaphilosopherissegretamente
secretlyinfluencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.Andbehindall
logica
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmorechiaramente
plainly,physiologicaldemands,forthemaintenanceofadefinitemodo
modeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthemaintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusany
obiezione
objectiontoit:itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmost
stranamente
strangely.Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fondamentalmente
fundamentallyinclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithoutariconoscimento
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withoutaconfronto
comparisonofrealitywiththepuramente
purelyIMAGINEDworldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,withoutacostante
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.TO
Riconoscere
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;thatiscertainlytoimpugnthetraditionalideasofvalueinadangerous
modo
manner,andaphilosophywhichavventura
venturestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
considerare
regardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeateddiscoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howchildishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudandvirtuoso
virtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenaccennato
hintedatintheremotestmanner.Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeendiscoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinely
indifferente
indifferentdialectic(incontrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,apregiudicato
prejudicedproposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichisgeneralmente
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtoberegardedassuch,
generalmente
generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthecoscienza
consciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendornemico
foe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equally
rigido
stiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmalldivertimento
amusementinspyingoutthesubtletricksofoldmoralistsandethicalpreachers.Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusinmathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofia
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"totradurre
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerrore
terroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocastasguardo
glanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyreclusetradisce
betray!6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofia
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,theconfessione
confessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandunconsciousauto-biography;andmoreoverthatthe
morale
moral(orimmoral)purposeineveryfilosofia
philosophyhasconstitutedthetruevitale
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosofo
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:"What
moralità
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"Di conseguenza
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatheroffilosofia
philosophy;butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
altrove
elsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)asan
strumento
instrument.Butwhoeverconsidersthefundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewto
determinare
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticedfilosofia
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfastheultimo
ultimateendofexistenceandthelegittimo
legitimateLORDoveralltheotherimpulses.Forevery
impulso
impulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreallyscientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
indipendente
independentclock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.Theactual"interests"ofthe
studioso
scholar,therefore,aregenerallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;itis,infact,almost
indifferente
indifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyounglavoratore
workerbecomesagoodphilologist,amushroomspecialista
specialist,orachemist;heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
filosofo
philosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;andaboveall,his
moralità
moralityfurnishesadecidedanddecisivetestimonianza
testimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.7.
Howmaliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthe
libertà
libertyofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
genuino
genuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).AndthelatterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewas
infastidito
annoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
rabbia
rageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofia
philosophyatwhichthe"conviction"ofthefilosofo
philosopherappearsonthescene;or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
frode
fraudofwords!ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlessly
stravagante
extravagant,boundlesslyindifferent,withoutpurposeorconsiderazione
consideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfulandsterile
barrenanduncertain:imaginetoyourselves
Indifferenza
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyouliveinaccordancewithsuchindifferenza
indifference?Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Andgrantedthatyour
imperativo
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudoDiversamente
DIFFERENTLY?Whyshouldyoumakea
principio
principleoutofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
canone
canonofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethecontrario
contrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!Inyourprideyouwishto
dettare
dictateyourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;you
insisti
insistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asavast,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andto
coronare
crownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldandeverlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofia
philosophybeginstobelieveinitself.Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
filosofia
philosophyisthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themostspirituale
spiritualWilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima.10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandtheapparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;
andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
vantarsi
boastofthesharpestears.Inrareandisolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertain
stravagante
extravagantandadventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambitionoftheforlornhope—haspartecipato
participatedtherein:thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
manciata
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
coscienza
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanincerto
uncertainsomething.ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
virtù
virtuemaydisplay.Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestilleagerforlife.
InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
credibilità
credibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthecredibilità
credibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurestpossesso
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefermamente
firmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasformerlyanevensecurerpossesso
possession,somethingoftheolddominio
domainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthis
modo
modeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeencostruito
constructedyesterdayandtoday;thereisperhapssomeslightadmixtureofsatietyand
disprezzo
scorn,whichcannolongersopportare
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvariedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;a
disgusto
disgustofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
istinto
instinct,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
artistico
artisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
deviare
divertattentionfromtheactualinfluenza
influencewhichKantexercisedonGermanfilosofia
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbeundertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Scoperto
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,thefacoltà
facultyofsyntheticjudgmentapriori.Grantingthathe
ingannato
deceivedhimselfinthismatter;the
sviluppo
developmentandrapidflourishingofGermanfilosofia
philosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationtoscoprire
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso."HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuchdisplayofGermanprofundityandverbalflourishes,thatone
del tutto
altogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
gioia
delightoverthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreacheditsculmine
climaxwhenKantfurtherdiscoveredamorale
moralfacultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmorale
moral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."Thencamethe
luna di miele
honeymoonofGermanphilosophy.AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstill
giovane
youthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,themaliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyetdistinguere
distinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!Abovealla
facoltà
facultyforthe"transcendental";Schellingchristenedit,
intellettuale
intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthenaturalmente
naturallypious-inclinedGermans.Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
eccentrico
eccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatitdisguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwithmorale
moralindignation.Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
svanì
vanished.Atimecamewhenpeople
strofinavano
rubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystillstrofinavano
rubthemtoday.Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
spiegazione
explanation?Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
cioè
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
regno
realmofcomedy,anditishightimetosostituire
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"byanotherquestion,"Whyis
credenza
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeoftheconservazione
preservationofcreatureslikeourselves;thoughtheystillmight
naturalmente
naturallybefalsejudgments!Or,more
chiaramente
plainlyspoken,androughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
credenza
beliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausiblecredenza
beliefandocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.Andfinally,tocalltomindtheenormous
influenza
influencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;thankstoGerman
filosofia
philosophy,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindanantidoto
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...