Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

Beyond Good and Evil | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

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PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
serietà
seriousness
andclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?
Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
filosofia
philosophy
,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlya
nobile
noble
puerilismandtyronism;
andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthebasisofsuchimposingandabsolutephilosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:
perhapssomepopular
superstizione
superstition
ofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-
andego-superstition,hasnotyetceaseddoingmischief):
perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
inganno
deception
onthepartof
grammatica
grammar
,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.
The
filosofia
philosophy
ofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswasastrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,and
pazienza
patience
havebeenspentthanonany
reale
actual
sciencehitherto:
weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleofarchitecture.
Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
vagare
wander
abouttheearthasenormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:
dogmatic
filosofia
philosophy
hasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—for
esempio
instance
,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.
Letusnotbeungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybe
confessare
confessed
thattheworst,themost
fastidioso
tiresome
,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato'sinventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.
Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreath
liberamente
freely
andatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthis
errore
error
hasfostered.
Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthe
negazione
denial
ofthePERSPECTIVE—thefundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;
indeedonemightask,asa
medico
physician
:
"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthatfinestproductofantiquity,Plato?
Hadthe
malvagio
wicked
Socratesreallycorruptedhim?
WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiasticaloppressionofmillenniumsof
Cristianesimo
Christianity
(FORCHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),
prodotto
produced
inEuropeamagnificent
tensione
tension
ofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywherepreviously;
withsuchatenselystrainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.
Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthis
tensione
tension
asastateofdistress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:
oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
democratico
democratic
enlightenment—which,withtheaidof
libertà
liberty
ofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!
(TheGermans
inventato
invented
gunpowder—allcredittothem!
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—they
inventato
invented
printing.)
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,norevensufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthedistressofspiritandallthe
tensione
tension
ofitsbow!
Andperhapsalsothe
freccia
arrow
,theduty,and,whoknows?
THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Capitolo
CHAPTER
I.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS
1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
tenta
tempt
ustomanyahazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!
Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardlycommenced.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,lose
pazienza
patience
,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
fermata
halt
atthequestionastotheoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoanabsolutestandstillbeforeayetmore
fondamentale
fundamental
question.
WeinquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.
Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
Anduncertainty?
Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobea
appuntamento
rendezvous
ofquestionsandnotesof
interrogatorio
interrogation
.
Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutoferror?
ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewilltodeception?
orthegenerousdeedoutofselfishness?
orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Such
genesi
genesis
isimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitisafool,
anzi
nay
,worsethanafool;
thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferentorigin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,
seducente
seductive
,illusory,paltryworld,inthis
tumulto
turmoil
ofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.
ButratherinthelapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—This
modo
mode
ofreasoningdisclosesthe
tipico
typical
prejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,this
modo
mode
ofvaluationisatthebackofalltheir
logico
logical
procedure;
throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
solennemente
solemnly
christened"theTruth."
The
fondamentale
fundamental
beliefofmetaphysiciansisTHE
Credenza
BELIEF
INANTITHESESOFVALUES.
Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
soglia
threshold
(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);
thoughtheyhadmadea
solenne
solemn
vow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."
Foritmaybedoubted,
in primo luogo
firstly
,whetherantithesesexistatall;
andsecondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
sigillo
seal
,arenotperhapsmerelysuperficialestimates,
semplicemente
merely
provisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanexpressioncurrentamongpainters.
Inspiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmore
fondamentale
fundamental
valueforlifegenerallyshouldbe
assegnato
assigned
topretence,tothewillto
illusione
delusion
,toselfishness,andcupidity.
ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consists
precisamente
precisely
intheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlyopposedthings—perhapseveninbeing
essenzialmente
essentially
identicalwiththem.
Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
attendere
await
theadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.
Andtospeakinall
serietà
seriousness
,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
cosciente
conscious
thinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseof
filosofico
philosophical
thinking;
onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesinto
considerazione
consideration
inthewholeprocessand
procedura
procedure
ofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"
Opposto
OPPOSED
totheinstinctiveinany
decisivo
decisive
sense;
thegreaterpartofthe
cosciente
conscious
thinkingofaphilosopheris
segretamente
secretly
influencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.
Andbehindall
logica
logic
anditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmore
chiaramente
plainly
,physiologicaldemands,forthemaintenanceofadefinite
modo
mode
oflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessvaluablethan"truth"suchvaluations,inspiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthemaintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.
Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusany
obiezione
objection
toit:
itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmost
stranamente
strangely
.
Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andweare
fondamentalmente
fundamentally
inclinedtomaintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithouta
riconoscimento
recognition
oflogicalfictions,withouta
confronto
comparison
ofrealitywiththe
puramente
purely
IMAGINEDworldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,withouta
costante
constant
counterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.
TO
Riconoscere
RECOGNISE
UNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;
thatiscertainlytoimpugnthetraditionalideasofvalueinadangerous
modo
manner
,andaphilosophywhich
avventura
ventures
todoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.
5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
considerare
regarded
half-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeateddiscoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howchildishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudand
virtuoso
virtuous
outcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessiseven
accennato
hinted
atintheremotestmanner.
Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeendiscoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinely
indifferente
indifferent
dialectic(incontrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,a
pregiudicato
prejudiced
proposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichis
generalmente
generally
theirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.
Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtoberegardedassuch,
generalmente
generally
astutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingthe
coscienza
conscience
whichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendor
nemico
foe
,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.
ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,equally
rigido
stiff
anddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(morecorrectlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmall
divertimento
amusement
inspyingoutthesubtletricksofoldmoralistsandethicalpreachers.
Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusinmathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofia
philosophy
inmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"to
tradurre
translate
thetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostrike
terrore
terror
atonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocasta
sguardo
glance
onthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyrecluse
tradisce
betray
!
6.
Ithasgraduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreat
filosofia
philosophy
uptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,the
confessione
confession
ofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandunconsciousauto-biography;
andmoreoverthatthe
morale
moral
(orimmoral)purposeinevery
filosofia
philosophy
hasconstitutedthetrue
vitale
vital
germoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.
Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosofo
philosopher
havebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:
"What
moralità
morality
dothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"
Di conseguenza
Accordingly
,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatherof
filosofia
philosophy
;
butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
altrove
elsewhere
,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)
asan
strumento
instrument
.
Butwhoeverconsidersthefundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewto
determinare
determining
howfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticed
filosofia
philosophy
atonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfasthe
ultimo
ultimate
endofexistenceandthe
legittimo
legitimate
LORDoveralltheotherimpulses.
Forevery
impulso
impulse
isimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.
Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreallyscientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;
theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
indipendente
independent
clock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.
Theactual"interests"ofthe
studioso
scholar
,therefore,aregenerallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;
itis,infact,almost
indifferente
indifferent
atwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoung
lavoratore
worker
becomesagoodphilologist,amushroom
specialista
specialist
,orachemist;
heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthe
filosofo
philosopher
,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moralità
morality
furnishesadecidedanddecisive
testimonianza
testimony
astoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.
7.
Howmaliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthe
libertà
liberty
ofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
genuino
genuine
aboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).
AndthelatterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:
hewas
infastidito
annoyed
bythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!
He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
rabbia
rage
andambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!
Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofia
philosophy
atwhichthe"conviction"ofthe
filosofo
philosopher
appearsonthescene;
or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,younobleStoics,what
frode
fraud
ofwords!
ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlessly
stravagante
extravagant
,boundlesslyindifferent,withoutpurposeor
considerazione
consideration
,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfuland
sterile
barren
anduncertain:
imaginetoyourselves
Indifferenza
INDIFFERENCE
asapower—howCOULDyouliveinaccordancewithsuch
indifferenza
indifference
?
Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,beingunjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?
Andgrantedthatyour
imperativo
imperative
,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudo
Diversamente
DIFFERENTLY
?
Whyshouldyoumakea
principio
principle
outofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?
Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
canone
canon
ofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethe
contrario
contrary
,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!
Inyourprideyouwishto
dettare
dictate
yourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;
you
insisti
insist
thatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asavast,eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!
Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andto
coronare
crown
all,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:
isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldandeverlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofia
philosophy
beginstobelieveinitself.
Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
filosofia
philosophy
isthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themost
spirituale
spiritual
WilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima.
10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandtheapparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;
andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
vantarsi
boast
ofthesharpestears.
Inrareandisolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertain
stravagante
extravagant
andadventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambitionoftheforlornhope—has
partecipato
participated
therein:
thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
manciata
handful
of"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;
theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
coscienza
conscience
,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninan
incerto
uncertain
something.
ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
virtù
virtue
maydisplay.
Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestilleagerforlife.
InthattheysideAGAINSTappearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrankthe
credibilità
credibility
oftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthe
credibilità
credibility
oftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurest
possesso
possession
toescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmore
fermamente
firmly
thaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasformerlyanevensecurer
possesso
possession
,somethingoftheold
dominio
domain
ofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?
ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthis
modo
mode
oflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeen
costruito
constructed
yesterdayandtoday;
thereisperhapssomeslightadmixtureofsatietyand
disprezzo
scorn
,whichcannolonger
sopportare
endure
theBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvariedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;
a
disgusto
disgust
ofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.
Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
istinto
instinct
,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...
whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
artistico
artistic
power,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!
11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
deviare
divert
attentionfromtheactual
influenza
influence
whichKantexercisedonGerman
filosofia
philosophy
,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.
KantwasfirstandforemostproudofhisTableofCategories;
withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbeundertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."
Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Scoperto
DISCOVERED
anewfacultyinman,the
facoltà
faculty
ofsyntheticjudgmentapriori.
Grantingthathe
ingannato
deceived
himselfinthismatter;
the
sviluppo
development
andrapidflourishingofGerman
filosofia
philosophy
dependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationto
scoprire
discover
ifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso.
"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuchdisplayofGermanprofundityandverbalflourishes,thatone
del tutto
altogether
losessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.
Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
gioia
delight
overthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreachedits
culmine
climax
whenKantfurtherdiscovereda
morale
moral
facultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestill
morale
moral
,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."
Thencamethe
luna di miele
honeymoon
ofGermanphilosophy.
AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingeninstitutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."
Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstill
giovane
youthful
periodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,themaliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyet
distinguere
distinguish
between"finding"and"inventing"!
Abovealla
facoltà
faculty
forthe"transcendental";
Schellingchristenedit,
intellettuale
intellectual
intuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostearnestlongingsofthe
naturalmente
naturally
pious-inclinedGermans.
Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantand
eccentrico
eccentric
movement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatitdisguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwith
morale
moral
indignation.
Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
svanì
vanished
.
Atimecamewhenpeople
strofinavano
rubbed
theirforeheads,andtheystill
strofinavano
rub
themtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
spiegazione
explanation
?
Orisitnotrathermerelyarepetitionofthequestion?
Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
cioè
namely
thevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.
Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
regno
realm
ofcomedy,anditishightimeto
sostituire
replace
theKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"
byanotherquestion,"Whyis
credenza
belief
insuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthe
conservazione
preservation
ofcreatureslikeourselves;
thoughtheystillmight
naturalmente
naturally
befalsejudgments!
Or,more
chiaramente
plainly
spoken,androughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;
wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,the
credenza
belief
intheirtruthisnecessary,asplausible
credenza
belief
andocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindtheenormous
influenza
influence
which"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;
thankstoGerman
filosofia
philosophy
,itwasadelighttothenobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindan
antidoto
antidote
tothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...