PREFACE
SUPPOSINGthatTruthisawoman—whatthen?
Istherenotgroundforsuspectingthatallphilosophers,insofarastheyhavebeendogmatists,havefailedtounderstandwomen—thattheterrible
alvoret
seriousnessandclumsyimportunitywithwhichtheyhaveusuallypaidtheiraddressestoTruth,havebeenunskilledandunseemlymethodsforwinningawoman?Certainlyshehasneverallowedherselftobewon;
andatpresenteverykindofdogmastandswithsadanddiscouragedmien—IF,indeed,itstandsatall!
Fortherearescofferswhomaintainthatithasfallen,thatalldogmaliesontheground—naymore,thatitisatitslastgasp.
Buttospeakseriously,therearegoodgroundsforhopingthatalldogmatizingin
filosofi
philosophy,whateversolemn,whateverconclusiveanddecidedairsithasassumed,mayhavebeenonlyaedel
noblepuerilismandtyronism;andprobablythetimeisathandwhenitwillbeonceandagainunderstoodWHAThasactuallysufficedforthebasisofsuchimposingandabsolute
filosofiske
philosophicaledificesasthedogmatistshavehithertoreared:perhapssomepopular
overtro
superstitionofimmemorialtime(suchasthesoul-superstition,which,intheformofsubject-andego-superstition,hasnotyet
sluttet
ceaseddoingmischief):perhapssomeplayuponwords,a
bedrag
deceptiononthepartofgrammar,oranaudaciousgeneralizationofveryrestricted,verypersonal,veryhuman—all-too-humanfacts.Thephilosophyofthedogmatists,itistobehoped,wasonlyapromiseforthousandsofyearsafterwards,aswas
astrologi
astrologyinstillearliertimes,intheserviceofwhichprobablymorelabour,gold,acuteness,andtålmodighet
patiencehavebeenspentthanonanyactualsciencehitherto:weowetoit,andtoits"super-terrestrial"pretensionsinAsiaandEgypt,thegrandstyleof
arkitektur
architecture.Itseemsthatinordertoinscribethemselvesupontheheartofhumanitywitheverlastingclaims,allgreatthingshavefirstto
vandre
wanderabouttheearthasenorme
enormousandawe-inspiringcaricatures:dogmatic
filosofi
philosophyhasbeenacaricatureofthiskind—foreksempel
instance,theVedantadoctrineinAsia,andPlatonisminEurope.Letusnotbeungratefultoit,althoughitmustcertainlybeconfessedthattheworst,themosttiresome,andthemostdangerousoferrorshithertohasbeenadogmatisterror—namely,Plato's
oppfinnelse
inventionofPureSpiritandtheGoodinItself.Butnowwhenithasbeensurmounted,whenEurope,ridofthisnightmare,canagaindrawbreath
fritt
freelyandatleastenjoyahealthier—sleep,we,WHOSEDUTYISWAKEFULNESSITSELF,aretheheirsofallthestrengthwhichthestruggleagainstthiserrorhasfostered.Itamountedtotheveryinversionoftruth,andthedenialofthePERSPECTIVE—the
grunnleggende
fundamentalcondition—oflife,tospeakofSpiritandtheGoodasPlatospokeofthem;indeedonemightask,asa
lege
physician:"Howdidsuchamaladyattackthat
fineste
finestproductofantiquity,Plato?Hadthe
onde
wickedSocratesreallycorruptedhim?WasSocratesafterallacorrupterofyouths,anddeservedhishemlock?"
ButthestruggleagainstPlato,or—tospeakplainer,andforthe"people"—thestruggleagainsttheecclesiasticaloppressionofmillenniumsof
Kristendommen
Christianity(FORCHRISTIANITYISPLATONISMFORTHE"PEOPLE"),produsert
producedinEuropeamagnificentspenning
tensionofsoul,suchashadnotexistedanywheretidligere
previously;withsuchatensely
anstrengt
strainedbowonecannowaimatthefurthestgoals.Asamatteroffact,theEuropeanfeelsthistensionasastateof
nød
distress,andtwiceattemptshavebeenmadeingrandstyletounbendthebow:oncebymeansofJesuitism,andthesecondtimebymeansof
demokratisk
democraticenlightenment—which,withtheaidoflibertyofthepressandnewspaper-reading,might,infact,bringitaboutthatthespiritwouldnotsoeasilyfinditselfin"distress"!(TheGermansinventedgunpowder—allcredittothem!
buttheyagainmadethingssquare—theyinventedprinting.)
Butwe,whoareneitherJesuits,nordemocrats,noreven
tilstrekkelig
sufficientlyGermans,weGOODEUROPEANS,andfree,VERYfreespirits—wehaveitstill,allthenød
distressofspiritandallthetensionofitsbow!Andperhapsalsothe
pilen
arrow,theduty,and,whoknows?THEGOALTOAIMAT....
Kapittel
CHAPTERI.PREJUDICESOFPHILOSOPHERS1.
TheWilltoTruth,whichisto
friste
temptustomanyafarlig
hazardousenterprise,thefamousTruthfulnessofwhichallphilosophershavehithertospokenwithrespect,whatquestionshasthisWilltoTruthnotlaidbeforeus!Whatstrange,perplexing,questionablequestions!
Itisalreadyalongstory;
yetitseemsasifitwerehardlycommenced.
Isitanywonderifweatlastgrowdistrustful,losepatience,andturnimpatientlyaway?
ThatthisSphinxteachesusatlasttoaskquestionsourselves?
WHOisitreallythatputsquestionstoushere?
WHATreallyisthis"WilltoTruth"inus?
Infactwemadealong
stopp
haltatthequestionastotheoriginofthisWill—untilatlastwecametoanabsolutt
absolutestandstillbeforeayetmoregrunnleggende
fundamentalquestion.WeinquiredabouttheVALUEofthisWill.
Grantedthatwewantthetruth:
WHYNOTRATHERuntruth?
And
usikkerhet
uncertainty?Evenignorance?
Theproblemofthevalueoftruthpresenteditselfbeforeus—orwasitwewhopresentedourselvesbeforetheproblem?
WhichofusistheOedipushere?
WhichtheSphinx?
Itwouldseemtobea
rendezvous
rendezvousofquestionsandnotesofavhør
interrogation.Andcoulditbebelievedthatitatlastseemstousasiftheproblemhadneverbeenpropoundedbefore,asifwewerethefirsttodiscernit,getasightofit,andRISKRAISINGit?
Forthereisriskinraisingit,perhapsthereisnogreaterrisk.
2.
"HOWCOULDanythingoriginateoutofitsopposite?
Forexample,truthoutof
feil
error?ortheWilltoTruthoutofthewillto
bedrag
deception?orthegenerousdeedoutofselfishness?
orthepuresun-brightvisionofthewisemanoutofcovetousness?
Suchgenesisisimpossible;
whoeverdreamsofitisafool,nay,worsethanafool;
thingsofthehighestvaluemusthaveadifferent
opprinnelse
origin,anoriginofTHEIRown—inthistransitory,forførende
seductive,illusory,paltryworld,inthisuroen
turmoilofdelusionandcupidity,theycannothavetheirsource.ButratherinthelapofBeing,intheintransitory,intheconcealedGod,inthe'Thing-in-itself—THEREmustbetheirsource,andnowhereelse!"—Thismodeofreasoning
avslører
disclosesthetypicalprejudicebywhichmetaphysiciansofalltimescanberecognized,thismodeofvaluationisatthebackofalltheirlogiske
logicalprocedure;throughthis"belief"oftheirs,theyexertthemselvesfortheir"knowledge,"forsomethingthatisintheend
høytidelig
solemnlychristened"theTruth."The
grunnleggende
fundamentalbeliefofmetaphysiciansisTHETroen
BELIEFINANTITHESESOFVALUES.Itneveroccurredeventothewariestofthemtodoubthereonthevery
terskelen
threshold(wheredoubt,however,wasmostnecessary);thoughtheyhadmadea
høytidelig
solemnvow,"DEOMNIBUSDUBITANDUM."Foritmaybedoubted,firstly,whetherantithesesexistatall;
andsecondly,whetherthepopularvaluationsandantithesesofvalueuponwhichmetaphysicianshavesettheir
segl
seal,arenotperhapsmerelysuperficialestimates,bare
merelyprovisionalperspectives,besidesbeingprobablymadefromsomecorner,perhapsfrombelow—"frogperspectives,"asitwere,toborrowanuttrykk
expressioncurrentamongpainters.In
tross
spiteofallthevaluewhichmaybelongtothetrue,thepositive,andtheunselfish,itmightbepossiblethatahigherandmoregrunnleggende
fundamentalvalueforlifegenerallyshouldbeassignedtopretence,tothewilltovrangforestilling
delusion,toselfishness,andcupidity.ItmightevenbepossiblethatWHATconstitutesthevalueofthosegoodandrespectedthings,consists
nettopp
preciselyintheirbeinginsidiouslyrelated,knotted,andcrochetedtotheseevilandapparentlymotsatte
opposedthings—perhapseveninbeingessentiallyidentiske
identicalwiththem.Perhaps!
Butwhowishestoconcernhimselfwithsuchdangerous"Perhapses"!
Forthatinvestigationonemust
vente
awaittheadventofaneworderofphilosophers,suchaswillhaveothertastesandinclinations,thereverseofthosehithertoprevalent—philosophersofthedangerous"Perhaps"ineverysenseoftheterm.Andtospeakinallseriousness,Iseesuchnewphilosophersbeginningtoappear.
3.
Havingkeptasharpeyeonphilosophers,andhavingreadbetweentheirlineslongenough,Inowsaytomyselfthatthegreaterpartof
bevisst
consciousthinkingmustbecountedamongtheinstinctivefunctions,anditissoeveninthecaseofphilosophicalthinking;onehasheretolearnanew,asonelearnedanewaboutheredityand"innateness."
Aslittleastheactofbirthcomesinto
betraktning
considerationinthewholeprocessandprocedureofheredity,justaslittleis"being-conscious"Motsatt
OPPOSEDtotheinstinctiveinanyavgjørende
decisivesense;thegreaterpartoftheconsciousthinkingofaphilosopherissecretly
påvirket
influencedbyhisinstincts,andforcedintodefinitechannels.Andbehindall
logikk
logicanditsseemingsovereigntyofmovement,therearevaluations,ortospeakmoreplainly,physiologicaldemands,forthevedlikehold
maintenanceofadefinitemodeoflifeForexample,thatthecertainisworthmorethantheuncertain,thatillusionislessverdifulle
valuablethan"truth"suchvaluations,intross
spiteoftheirregulativeimportanceforUS,mightnotwithstandingbeonlysuperficialvaluations,specialkindsofniaiserie,suchasmaybenecessaryforthevedlikehold
maintenanceofbeingssuchasourselves.Supposing,ineffect,thatmanisnotjustthe"measureofthings."
4.
Thefalsenessofanopinionisnotforusany
innvending
objectiontoit:itishere,perhaps,thatournewlanguagesoundsmost
merkelig
strangely.Thequestionis,howfaranopinionislife-furthering,life-preserving,species-preserving,perhapsspecies-rearing,andwearefundamentallyinclinedto
opprettholde
maintainthatthefalsestopinions(towhichthesyntheticjudgmentsaprioribelong),arethemostindispensabletous,thatwithoutaanerkjennelse
recognitionoflogicalfictions,withoutasammenligning
comparisonofrealitywiththerent
purelyIMAGINEDworldoftheabsoluteandimmutable,withoutakonstant
constantcounterfeitingoftheworldbymeansofnumbers,mancouldnotlive—thattherenunciationoffalseopinionswouldbearenunciationoflife,anegationoflife.TO
Anerkjenne
RECOGNISEUNTRUTHASACONDITIONOFLIFE;thatiscertainlytoimpugnthe
tradisjonelle
traditionalideasofvalueinadangerousmåte
manner,andaphilosophywhichvåger
venturestodoso,hastherebyaloneplaceditselfbeyondgoodandevil.5.
Thatwhichcausesphilosopherstobe
betraktet
regardedhalf-distrustfullyandhalf-mockingly,isnottheoft-repeatedoppdagelsen
discoveryhowinnocenttheyare—howoftenandeasilytheymakemistakesandlosetheirway,inshort,howchildishandchildliketheyare,—butthatthereisnotenoughhonestdealingwiththem,whereastheyallraisealoudandvirtuousoutcrywhentheproblemoftruthfulnessisevenhintedatintheremotestmanner.Theyallposeasthoughtheirrealopinionshadbeen
oppdaget
discoveredandattainedthroughtheself-evolvingofacold,pure,divinelylikegyldig
indifferentdialectic(incontrasttoallsortsofmystics,who,fairerandfoolisher,talkof"inspiration"),whereas,infact,aprejudicedproposition,idea,or"suggestion,"whichisgenerelt
generallytheirheart'sdesireabstractedandrefined,isdefendedbythemwithargumentssoughtoutaftertheevent.Theyarealladvocateswhodonotwishtobe
betraktet
regardedassuch,generallyastutedefenders,also,oftheirprejudices,whichtheydub"truths,"—andVERYfarfromhavingtheconsciencewhichbravelyadmitsthistoitself,veryfarfromhavingthegoodtasteofthecouragewhichgoessofarastoletthisbeunderstood,perhapstowarnfriendorfiende
foe,orincheerfulconfidenceandself-ridicule.ThespectacleoftheTartufferyofoldKant,
like
equallystiffanddecent,withwhichheenticesusintothedialecticby-waysthatlead(moreriktig
correctlymislead)tohis"categoricalimperative"—makesusfastidiousonessmile,wewhofindnosmallunderholdning
amusementinspyingoutthesubtile
subtletricksofoldmoralistsandetiske
ethicalpreachers.Or,stillmoreso,thehocus-pocusinmathematicalform,bymeansofwhichSpinozahas,asitwere,cladhis
filosofi
philosophyinmailandmask—infact,the"loveofHISwisdom,"tooversette
translatethetermfairlyandsquarely—inordertherebytostriketerror
terroratonceintotheheartoftheassailantwhoshoulddaretocastablikk
glanceonthatinvinciblemaiden,thatPallasAthene:—howmuchofpersonaltimidityandvulnerabilitydoesthismasqueradeofasicklyreclusebetray!6.
Ithas
gradvis
graduallybecomecleartomewhateverygreatfilosofi
philosophyuptillnowhasconsistedof—namely,theconfessionofitsoriginator,andaspeciesofinvoluntaryandunconsciousauto-biography;andmoreoverthatthe
moralske
moral(orimmoral)purposeineveryfilosofi
philosophyhasconstitutedthetruevitale
vitalgermoutofwhichtheentireplanthasalwaysgrown.Indeed,tounderstandhowtheabstrusestmetaphysicalassertionsofa
filosof
philosopherhavebeenarrivedat,itisalwayswell(andwise)tofirstaskoneself:"What
moral
moralitydothey(ordoeshe)aimat?"Følgelig
Accordingly,Idonotbelievethatan"impulsetoknowledge"isthefatheroffilosofi
philosophy;butthatanotherimpulse,hereas
andre steder
elsewhere,hasonlymadeuseofknowledge(andmistakenknowledge!)asan
instrument
instrument.Butwhoeverconsidersthe
grunnleggende
fundamentalimpulsesofmanwithaviewtoavgjøre
determininghowfartheymayhavehereactedasINSPIRINGGENII(orasdemonsandcobolds),willfindthattheyhaveallpracticedfilosofi
philosophyatonetimeoranother,andthateachoneofthemwouldhavebeenonlytoogladtolookuponitselfastheultimate
ultimateendofexistenceandthelegitime
legitimateLORDoveralltheotherimpulses.Forevery
impuls
impulseisimperious,andasSUCH,attemptstophilosophize.Tobesure,inthecaseofscholars,inthecaseofreally
vitenskapelige
scientificmen,itmaybeotherwise—"better,"ifyouwill;theretheremayreallybesuchathingasan"impulsetoknowledge,"somekindofsmall,
uavhengig
independentclock-work,which,whenwellwoundup,worksawayindustriouslytothatend,WITHOUTtherestofthescholarlyimpulsestakinganymaterialparttherein.The
faktiske
actual"interests"ofthescholar,therefore,aregenerelt
generallyinquiteanotherdirection—inthefamily,perhaps,orinmoney-making,orinpolitics;itis,infact,almost
likegyldig
indifferentatwhatpointofresearchhislittlemachineisplaced,andwhetherthehopefulyoungworkerbecomesagoodphilologist,asopp
mushroomspecialist,orachemist;heisnotCHARACTERISEDbybecomingthisorthat.
Inthephilosopher,onthecontrary,thereisabsolutelynothingimpersonal;
andaboveall,his
moral
moralityfurnishesadecidedandavgjørende
decisivetestimonyastoWHOHEIS,—thatistosay,inwhatorderthedeepestimpulsesofhisnaturestandtoeachother.7.
Howmaliciousphilosopherscanbe!
IknowofnothingmorestingingthanthejokeEpicurustookthelibertyofmakingonPlatoandthePlatonists;
hecalledthemDionysiokolakes.
Initsoriginalsense,andonthefaceofit,thewordsignifies"FlatterersofDionysius"—consequently,tyrants'accessoriesandlick-spittles;
besidesthis,however,itisasmuchastosay,"TheyareallACTORS,thereisnothing
ekte
genuineaboutthem"(forDionysiokolaxwasapopularnameforanactor).Andthe
sistnevnte
latterisreallythemalignantreproachthatEpicuruscastuponPlato:hewas
irritert
annoyedbythegrandiosemanner,themiseenscenestyleofwhichPlatoandhisscholarsweremasters—ofwhichEpicuruswasnotamaster!He,theoldschool-teacherofSamos,whosatconcealedinhislittlegardenatAthens,andwrotethreehundredbooks,perhapsoutof
raseri
rageandambitiousenvyofPlato,whoknows!Greecetookahundredyearstofindoutwhothegarden-godEpicurusreallywas.
Didsheeverfindout?
8.
Thereisapointinevery
filosofi
philosophyatwhichthe"conviction"ofthephilosopherappearsonthescene;or,toputitinthewordsofanancientmystery:.
Adventavitasinus,Pulcheretfortissimus.
9.
YoudesiretoLIVE"accordingtoNature"?
Oh,you
edle
nobleStoics,whatfraudofwords!ImaginetoyourselvesabeinglikeNature,boundlesslyextravagant,boundlessly
likegyldig
indifferent,withoutpurposeorconsideration,withoutpityorjustice,atoncefruitfulandufruktbar
barrenanduncertain:imaginetoyourselves
Likegyldighet
INDIFFERENCEasapower—howCOULDyouliveinsamsvar
accordancewithsuchindifference?Tolive—isnotthatjustendeavouringtobeotherwisethanthisNature?
Isnotlivingvaluing,preferring,being
urettferdig
unjust,beinglimited,endeavouringtobedifferent?Andgrantedthatyour
imperativ
imperative,"livingaccordingtoNature,"meansactuallythesameas"livingaccordingtolife"—howcouldyoudoAnnerledes
DIFFERENTLY?Whyshouldyoumakea
prinsipp
principleoutofwhatyouyourselvesare,andmustbe?Inreality,however,itisquiteotherwisewithyou:
whileyoupretendtoreadwithrapturethe
kanonen
canonofyourlawinNature,youwantsomethingquitethecontrary,youextraordinarystage-playersandself-deluders!Inyourprideyouwishto
diktere
dictateyourmoralsandidealstoNature,toNatureherself,andtoincorporatethemtherein;you
insisterer
insistthatitshallbeNature"accordingtotheStoa,"andwouldlikeeverythingtobemadeafteryourownimage,asavast,evig
eternalglorificationandgeneralismofStoicism!Withallyourlovefortruth,youhaveforcedyourselvessolong,sopersistently,andwithsuchhypnoticrigiditytoseeNatureFALSELY,thatistosay,Stoically,thatyouarenolongerabletoseeitotherwise—andto
krone
crownall,someunfathomablesuperciliousnessgivesyoutheBedlamitehopethatBECAUSEyouareabletotyrannizeoveryourselves—Stoicismisself-tyranny—Naturewillalsoallowherselftobetyrannizedover:isnottheStoicaPARTofNature?...
Butthisisanoldandeverlastingstory:
whathappenedinoldtimeswiththeStoicsstillhappenstoday,assoonasevera
filosofi
philosophybeginstobelieveinitself.Italwayscreatestheworldinitsownimage;
itcannotdootherwise;
filosofi
philosophyisthistyrannicalimpulseitself,themoståndelige
spiritualWilltoPower,thewillto"creationoftheworld,"thewilltothecausaprima
prima.10.
Theeagernessandsubtlety,Ishouldevensaycraftiness,withwhichtheproblemof"therealandthe
tilsynelatende
apparentworld"isdealtwithatpresentthroughoutEurope,furnishesfoodforthoughtandattention;andhewhohearsonlya"WilltoTruth"inthebackground,andnothingelse,cannotcertainly
skryte
boastofthesharpestears.Inrareand
isolerte
isolatedcases,itmayreallyhavehappenedthatsuchaWilltoTruth—acertainextravagantandeventyrlystne
adventurouspluck,ametaphysician'sambitionoftheforlornhope—hasparticipatedtherein:thatwhichintheendalwaysprefersa
håndfull
handfulof"certainty"toawholecartloadofbeautifulpossibilities;theremayevenbepuritanicalfanaticsof
samvittighet
conscience,whoprefertoputtheirlasttrustinasurenothing,ratherthaninanuncertainsomething.ButthatisNihilism,andthesignofadespairing,mortallyweariedsoul,notwithstandingthecourageousbearingsucha
dyd
virtuemaydisplay.Itseems,however,tobeotherwisewithstrongerandlivelierthinkerswhoarestilleagerforlife.
InthattheysideAGAINST
utseende
appearance,andspeaksuperciliouslyof"perspective,"inthattheyrangerer
rankthecredibilityoftheirownbodiesaboutaslowasthecredibilityoftheocularevidencethat"theearthstandsstill,"andthus,apparently,allowingwithcomplacencytheirsecurestbesittelse
possessiontoescape(forwhatdoesoneatpresentbelieveinmorefast
firmlythaninone'sbody?),—whoknowsiftheyarenotreallytryingtowinbacksomethingwhichwasformerlyanevensecurerbesittelse
possession,somethingoftheolddomainofthefaithofformertimes,perhapsthe"immortalsoul,"perhaps"theoldGod,"inshort,ideasbywhichtheycouldlivebetter,thatistosay,morevigorouslyandmorejoyously,thanby"modernideas"?ThereisDISTRUSTofthesemodernideasinthismodeoflookingatthings,adisbeliefinallthathasbeenconstructedyesterdayandtoday;
thereisperhapssome
liten
slightadmixtureofsatietyandforakt
scorn,whichcannolongertåle
enduretheBRIC-A-BRACofideasofthemostvarierte
variedorigin,suchasso-calledPositivismatpresentthrowsonthemarket;a
avsky
disgustofthemorerefinedtasteatthevillage-fairmotleynessandpatchinessofallthesereality-philosophasters,inwhomthereisnothingeithernewortrue,exceptthismotleyness.Thereinitseemstomethatweshouldagreewiththoseskepticalanti-realistsandknowledge-microscopistsofthepresentday;
their
instinkt
instinct,whichrepelsthemfromMODERNreality,isunrefuted...whatdotheirretrogradeby-pathsconcernus!
ThemainthingaboutthemisNOTthattheywishtogo"back,"butthattheywishtogetAWAYtherefrom.
AlittleMOREstrength,swing,courage,and
kunstnerisk
artisticpower,andtheywouldbeOFF—andnotback!11.
Itseemstomethatthereiseverywhereanattemptatpresentto
avlede
divertattentionfromtheactualinfluencewhichKantexercisedonGermanfilosofi
philosophy,andespeciallytoignoreprudentlythevaluewhichhesetuponhimself.Kantwasfirstand
fremst
foremostproudofhisTableofCategories;withitinhishandhesaid:
"Thisisthemostdifficultthingthatcouldeverbe
foretatt
undertakenonbehalfofmetaphysics."Letusonlyunderstandthis"couldbe"!
Hewasproudofhaving
Oppdaget
DISCOVEREDanewfacultyinman,thefacultyofsyntheticdømmekraft
judgmentapriori.Grantingthathedeceivedhimselfinthismatter;
thedevelopmentand
rask
rapidflourishingofGermanphilosophydependedneverthelessonhispride,andontheeagerrivalryoftheyoungergenerationtooppdage
discoverifpossiblesomething—atallevents"newfaculties"—ofwhichtobestillprouder!—Butletusreflektere
reflectforamoment—itishightimetodoso."HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaprioriPOSSIBLE?"
Kantaskshimself—andwhatisreallyhisanswer?
"BYMEANSOFAMEANS(faculty)"—butunfortunatelynotinfivewords,butsocircumstantially,imposingly,andwithsuch
visning
displayofGermanprofundityandverbalblomstrer
flourishes,thatonealtogetherlosessightofthecomicalniaiserieallemandeinvolvedinsuchananswer.Peoplewerebesidethemselveswith
glede
delightoverthisnewfaculty,andthejubilationreacheditsclimaxwhenKantfurtheroppdaget
discoveredamoralfacultyinman—foratthattimeGermanswerestillmoral,notyetdabblinginthe"Politicsofhardfact."Thencamethe
bryllupsreise
honeymoonofGermanphilosophy.AlltheyoungtheologiansoftheTubingen
institusjon
institutionwentimmediatelyintothegroves—allseekingfor"faculties."Andwhatdidtheynotfind—inthatinnocent,rich,andstillyouthfulperiodoftheGermanspirit,towhichRomanticism,themaliciousfairy,pipedandsang,whenonecouldnotyet
skille
distinguishbetween"finding"and"inventing"!Abovealla
fakultet
facultyforthe"transcendental";Schellingchristenedit,
intellektuell
intellectualintuition,andtherebygratifiedthemostoppriktige
earnestlongingsofthenaturallypious-inclinedGermans.Onecandonogreaterwrongtothewholeofthisexuberantandeccentricmovement(whichwasreallyyouthfulness,notwithstandingthatitdisguiseditselfsoboldly,inhoaryandsenileconceptions),thantotakeitseriously,oreventreatitwith
moralsk
moralindignation.Enough,however—theworldgrewolder,andthedream
forsvant
vanished.Atimecamewhenpeoplerubbedtheirforeheads,andtheystillrubthemtoday.
Peoplehadbeendreaming,andfirstandforemost—oldKant.
"Bymeansofameans(faculty)"—hehadsaid,oratleastmeanttosay.
But,isthat—ananswer?
An
forklaring
explanation?Orisitnotrather
bare
merelyarepetitionofthequestion?Howdoesopiuminducesleep?
"Bymeansofameans(faculty),"
nemlig
namelythevirtusdormitiva,repliesthedoctorinMoliere,.Butsuchrepliesbelongtothe
riket
realmofcomedy,anditishightimetoerstatte
replacetheKantianquestion,"HowaresyntheticjudgmentsaPRIORIpossible?"byanotherquestion,"Whyis
tro
beliefinsuchjudgmentsnecessary?"—ineffect,itishightimethatweshouldunderstandthatsuchjudgmentsmustbebelievedtobetrue,forthesakeofthepreservationofcreatureslikeourselves;thoughtheystillmight
naturlig
naturallybefalsejudgments!Or,moreplainlyspoken,and
grovt
roughlyandreadily—syntheticjudgmentsapriorishouldnot"bepossible"atall;wehavenorighttothem;
inourmouthstheyarenothingbutfalsejudgments.
Only,ofcourse,thebeliefintheirtruthisnecessary,asplausiblebeliefandocularevidencebelongingtotheperspectiveviewoflife.
Andfinally,tocalltomindthe
enorme
enormousinfluencewhich"Germanphilosophy"—Ihopeyouunderstanditsrighttoinvertedcommas(goosefeet)?—hasexercisedthroughoutthewholeofEurope,thereisnodoubtthatacertainVIRTUSDORMITIVAhadashareinit;thankstoGerman
filosofi
philosophy,itwasadelighttotheedle
nobleidlers,thevirtuous,themystics,theartiste,thethree-fourthsChristians,andthepoliticalobscurantistsofallnations,tofindanmotgift
antidotetothestilloverwhelmingsensualismwhichoverflowedfromthelastcenturyintothis,inshort—"sensusassoupire."...