"Past a certain age, I think it as impossible to learn Kantian Philosophy as to learn rope-dancing."[1]
I should certainly not have condescended to record the sins of these sinners had not the interests of truth required that I should do so, in order to show the state of degradation at which German Philosophy has arrived fifty years after Kant's death in consequence of the machinations of the gentlemen 'of the trade,' and also to show what would result if these puny minds, who know nothing but their own ends, were to be suffered without hindrance to check the influence of the great geniuses who have illumined the world. I cannot look on at this in silence ; it is rather a case to which Goethe's exhortation applies:
"Du Kräftiger, sei nicht so still,
Wenn auch sich andere scheuen.
Wer den Teufel erschrecken will,
Der muss laut schreien."[2]
Dr. Martin Luther thought so also.
Hatred against Kant, hatred against me, hatred against truth, all however in majorem Dei gloriam,[3] is what inspires these worthies who live on philosophy. Who can be so blind as not to see that university philosophy is the enemy of all true, serious philosophy whose progress it feels bound to withstand ? For a philosophy which deserves the name is pure service of truth, therefore the most sublime of all human endeavours; but, as such, it is not adapted for a trade. Least of all can it have its seat in universities, where a theological faculty predominates and things are irrevocably decided beforehand ere philosophy comes to them. With Scholasticism, from which university philosophy descends, it was quite a different thing. Scholasticism was avowedly the ancilla theologiae,[4] so that here the name corresponded to the thing. Our University philosophy of to-day, on the contrary, disclaims
- ↑ Wikisource annotation: Miscellaneous Writings, vol. I, p. 107
- ↑ Wikisource translation: Be not so silent, you who are strong,
Even if others are shy.
Whoever wants to scare the devil
Must cry out aloud. Zahme Xenien, I, v. 153 seqq. - ↑ Wikisource translation: for the greater glory of God
- ↑ Wikisource translation: handmaid to theology
