Science as a Vocation
Author(s): Max Weber
Source: Daedalus, Vol. 87, No. 1, Science and the Modern World View (Winter, 1958), pp. 111-134
Published by: MIT Press on behalf of American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20026431
Accessed: 16-12-2015 23:37 UTC
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/
info/about/policies/terms.jsp
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content
in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.
For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
American Academy of Arts & Sciences and MIT Press are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to
Daedalus.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
AND MOTIFS
TEXTS
Max Weber:
Introduction:
the
With
Editors
ments
of
presentation
of Dcedalus
which
those
we
Whether
Rieff
of Weber's
part
major
a Department
a
define
our
own
have
many
the
essay,
docu
important
issue ?a
Department
lapsed back
to
disciplines
uncover
shall
great
featuring
crucial
us who
among
of
uncertainties
comforting
certainties.
Philip
to
served
to convert
designed
the
establish
have
as a Vocation"
"Science
essays
the
into the
larger
to Weber's
equal
un
is open to doubt; we shall try, for only from the profound and illu
such as this can any affirmative doctrine
minating despair of writings
of
as
man,
seen
to
The
narcissistically
that
argues
nor
philosophy
answer.
shattered
of
perspectives
the
arts
modern
arise.
sciences,
again
In sum, Weber
Neither
the
from
and
the
is now
theology
if
arts,
they
to
themselves.
cannot
sciences
could
make
No
new
ask
of
questions
value.
to ask, let alone
competent
an answer,
would
answer
sounds,
only
point
and
the
old
ones bore us, for they are no longer directed to
apparently relevant
we
to
Weber
abandon
such questions
hints,
questions. Perhaps,
ought
and treat every aspect of life as a work of art, something worth while
so far
as we
to
respond
other
it. But
minds,
not
less
keen
than Weber's,
are still at work
the questions. And it does not help, as
formulating
Weber
that would be to
agrees, to dismiss the questions as unscientific;
the
ignore
their
of
complicity
science
to raise first questions
ment,
ancestors,
the
itself
in
creating
our
long after they had been
main
embarrass
laid to rest with
Gods.
Men became religious when
they had to approach and rationalize
the chaos of powers by which
and their destinies
they were moved
toWeber
sealed. But from Hobbes
there has been an insistent, ironic
voice saying that religious man is really, at bottom, political man. All
are
of politics. Thus, from the primitive notion
theologies
metaphors
that God is power we have advanced to the notion that power is God.
as once in some mythic
time mankind tested the limits of God,
Now,
we shall end with a
the limits of power are being tested. Whether
real Fall is not yet certain, although some testers imagine such things
in their most expert dreams. Weber
shared in the scientific imagina
tion of disaster. In this essay he sketches the model of all our present
disasters.
finished
Weber
was
constructing
stayed. To his way
an
honest
and
passionate
scientist;
when
his model
and found himself enclosed
of thinking there is no way out.
he
had
in it, he
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
as a Vocation
Science
. . . This much
to say about the external condi
I deem necessary
But I believe that
tions of the academic man's vocation.
actually you
of the inward
for sci
wish to hear of
something else, namely,
calling
ence. In our time, the internal situation, in contrast to the
organiza
is first of all conditioned
tion of science as a vocation,
by the facts
of
unknown
that science has entered a
specialization
previously
phase
and that this will
forever remain the case. Not
only externally,
can
where
the individual
stand at a
but inwardly, matters
point
sure consciousness
of achieving
the
something
truly perfect
acquire
in the field of science only in case he is a strict specialist.
All work
that overlaps neighboring
fields, such as we occasionally
must
undertake
the sociologists
undertake
and which
necessarily
realization
that at
the
is burdened with
and
resigned
again
again,
with useful questions
which
the
best one
upon
specialist
provides
not so
of view.
hit from his own
he would
easily
specialized point
own work must
remain
One's
Only
inevitably
imperfect.
highly
can the scientific worker
become
strict
fully
by
specialization
for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he
conscious,
has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good
And
is today always a specialized
accomplishment.
accomplishment
so to
to put on blinders,
whoever
lacks the capacity
speak, and
to come up to the idea that the fate of his soul
upon
depends
at this passage of
or not he makes
the correct conjecture
whether
as well
this
may
stay ' away from science. ' He will
manuscript
never have what one may call the
of science.
personal experience
ridiculed
Without
this strange
outsider;
intoxication,
by every
of years must
this 'thousands
this
without
pass before
passion,
'?
more wait
in
silence
enter
Ufe
and
thousands
into
you
according
or not you succeed in
to whether
this conjecture; without
making
this, you have no caUing for science and you should do something
is
of man as man unless he can pursue
else. For nothing
worthy
devotion.
it with
passionate
*
Reprinted with
permission
from the book From Max Weber: Essays
Sociology,
C. Wright
and with
edited
translated,
Mills
Oxford
(New York:
Translated
from
schaftslehre
University,
'Wissenschaft
(T?bingen,
1918, published
1922),
in
an
introduction
by H.
H.
Gerth
in
and
Press,
134-156.
1946), pp.
zur Wissen
Aufsaetze
a
at Munich
524-55.
pp.
Originally
speech
Munich.
& Humboldt,
1919 by Duncker
als Beruf,'
University
Gesammelte
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
it is a fact
that no
and Motifs
amount
however
enthusiasm,
a
to
be,
yield
problem
compel
profound
enthusiasm
is a
of the
results.
scientific
Certainly
prerequisite
in circles
of
which
is decisive.
Nowadays
'inspiration'
youth
a
in
notion that science has become
there is a
problem
widespread
or
in
statistical
fabricated
laboratories
calculation,
systems
filing
'
as in a
a calculation
the cool intellect
involving
only
just
factory,'
'
heart and soul.' First of all one must say that such
and not one's
comments
lack all clarity about what goes on in a factory or in a
In both some idea has to occur to someone's mind, and
laboratory.
it has to be a correct idea, if one is to
anything worth
accomplish
to do
It has
such intuition cannot be forced.
while.
And
nothing
calculation
is also an
with any cold calculation.
Certainly
indispen
No
for instance, should think himself
sable
sociologist,
prerequisite.
even in his old
too
of
age, to make tens of thousands
quite
good,
at a time.
for months
in his head and
trivial
perhaps
computations
to
cannot with
this task entirely
One
try to transfer
impunity
even
to
assistants if one wishes
mechanical
figure something,
though
'
'
the final result is often small indeed. But if no
idea occurs to his
Yet
sincere
it may
and
of
can
"3
such
his
of his computations
direction
and, during
about the bearing of the emergent
then
computations,
single results,
even this small result will not be
yielded.
'
'
on the soil of very
such an
idea
is
only
Normally
prepared
this is not
but
the case.
hard work,
always
certainly
Scientifically,
a dilettante's
idea may have the very same or even a greater bear
for science
than that of a
of our very best
ing
specialist. Many
are due
to dilettantes.
The dilet
and
insights
hypotheses
precisely
as Helmholtz
tante differs
has said of Robert
from the expert,
in that he lacks a firm and reliable work
Mayer,
only
procedure.
not in the
to control, to estimate,
he is
Consequently
usually
position
or to
the idea in its bearings. The
idea is not a substitute
exploit
an
in turn, cannot substitute
for work;
and work,
for or compel
can. Both, enthusiasm
and work,
idea, just as little as enthusiasm
and above all both of them jointly, can entice the idea.
not when
us. The
it
Ideas occur to us when
they please,
pleases
best ideas do indeed occur to one's mind in the way in which
Ihering
a
on the sofa; or as Helmholtz
it: when
describes
smoking
cigar
a walk
states of himself with
scientific
exactitude: when
taking
on a
or
a
In
in
similar way.
street;
any case, ideas
slowly ascending
come when we do not
not when we are
and
them,
expect
brooding
mind
about
the
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
114
and searching
had we
mind
at our desks.
not
brooded
Yet ideas would
certainly
at our desks and searched
not
come
to
for answers
with
devotion.
passionate
However
this may be, the scientific worker
has to take into his
'
'
enters into all scientific work:
the
Does an idea
risk
that
bargain
occur or does it not? He
and yet
may be an excellent worker
never have had any valuable
It is a grave error
idea of his own.
to believe that this is so
in science, and that
only
things for instance
or
in a business office are different
A merchant
from a
laboratory.
a
without
that
'business
is,
big industrialist without
imagination,'
ideas or ideal intuitions, will for all his life remain a man who would
better have remained a clerk or a technical
official. He will never
be
creative
in
in the field of science
truly
organization.
Inspiration
no means
as academic
conceit
fancies,
role,
by
plays any greater
than it does in the field of mastering
life
of
problems
practical
a modern
other
is
this
On
the
and
also
hand,
entrepreneur.
by
no less a role in science than
often misconstrued,
inspiration plays
it does in the realm of art. It is a childish notion
to think that a
attains any
mathematician
results
valuable
scientifically
by sitting
a ruler,
or other mechanical
at his desk with
calculating machines
means. The mathematical
of aWeierstrass
is
imagination
naturally
oriented
in
result
is
and
the
than
quite differently
meaning
imagina
tion of an artist, and differs
in
But the
basically
quality.
psycho
do not differ. Both are
the sense of
(in
logical processes
frenzy
'
'
Plato's
mania ') and
inspiration.'
we
whether
have
scientific
Now,
upon
inspiration
depends
that are hidden
destinies
from us, and besides upon
'gifts.' Last
but not least, because of this indubitable
truth, a very understand
able attitude has become
and has
among youth,
popular,
especially
a broad
cult
put them in the service of idols whose
today occupies
on all street corners and in all
These
idols are
place
periodicals.
'
'
are
con
and
Both
'personality
experience.'
personal
intimately
the notion
the
latter
that
constitutes
the
former
nected,
prevails
'
to it.
and
to
in
belongs
People belabor themselves
trying
experi
'
?
ence
life
for that befits a
of its rank and
personality, ' conscious
'
station. And
if we do not succeed in
life, we must
experiencing
at least
to have this
we
of
called
grace.
pretend
gift
Formerly
this
in
I
and
believe
that
'sensation';
'experience,'
plain German,
we then had a more
idea
of
what
is
and
what
adequate
personality
it
signifies.
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
ll'S
In the field of science
is
Ladies
and gentlemen.
who
only he
'
to
at
devoted
the
hand
has
this
work
And
solely
personality.'
holds not
for the field of science; we know
of no great
only
serve his work
artist who
has ever done
but
and only
anything
even with
a
his work.
As far as his art is concerned,
personality
to take the
of Goethe's
of
rank, it has been detrimental
liberty
'
'
a work
to make his
even if one
art. And
life
into
of
trying
doubts this, one has to be a Goethe
in order to dare
oneself
permit
at
such
will
admit
that even
least this much:
liberty. Everybody
a
man
once
a
with
like Goethe,
in
who
thousand years,
appears
are not dif
matters
this
did not go
for.
In
liberty
unpaid
politics
In the field of science,
ferent, but we shall not discuss that today.
the man who makes himself the
however,
impresario of the subject
to which
he should be devoted,
and steps upon the stage and seeks
'
to
can I
himself
How
legitimate
through
experience,'
asking:'
'
am
mere
a
I
that
other
than
and
prove
something
specialist
or in content
to
how can I manage
in
form
that
say something
'
a man is no
else has ever said??such
nobody
personality.'
Today
a
such conduct
is a crowd
and it
petty
always makes
phenomenon,
and debases
is thus concerned.
the one who
Instead
impression
to the task, and that alone, should lift
of this, an inner devotion
the scientist to the
of the subject he
height and dignity
pretends
to serve. And
in this it is not different with
the artist.
In contrast with
these
which
scientific work
shares
preconditions
with
it
from
art, science has a fate that profoundly
distinguishes
artistic work.
is chained to the course of progress;
Scientific work
in the realm of art there is no progress
whereas
in the same sense.
not
true that the work
It is
of art of a
that has worked
period
out new technical means, or, for instance, the laws of
perspective,
a work
stands therefore
of art devoid
of
artistically
higher than
means
all
of
its
those
and
laws
?if
form
does
knowledge
justice
to the material,
so
that is, if its
object has been chosen and formed
that it could be
mastered without
those
condi
artistically
applying '
'
tions and means.
A work
is
of art which
is
fulfilment
genuine
never
it will never be
Individuals
differ
may
surpassed;
antiquated.
in
the personal
of works
of art, but no
appreciating
significance
one will ever be able to
such a work
that it is
say of
by
outstripped
'
another work which
is also fulfilment.'
In science, each of us knows that what he has
will
accomplished
be
in ten,
to
is
the fate
which
antiquated
twenty, fifty years. That
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
no
to
it is the very meaning
of scientific work,
as
in a
with
sense,
quite specific
compared
in
of culture for which
the same holds. Every
other
general
spheres
it asks to be 'sur
raises new
'fulfilment'
scientific
'questions';
'
to serve science has to
wishes
and outdated. Whoever
passed
can last as
to this fact. Scientific works
himself
certainly
resign
'
'
re
or
because
of their artistic
they may
quality,
gratifications
main important as a means of training. Yet they will be surpassed
? for it is our common
? let that be
fate
repeated
scientifically
our
common
cannot
that
We
work
without
and, more,
goal.
hoping
this progress
others will advance further than we have. In principle,
on ad infinitum. And with
this we come to inquire into the
goes
that some
of science. For, after all, it is not self-evident
meaning
science
which
thing
Why
is subjected;
it is devoted
subordinate
does one
and
comes,
never
to such a law is sensible and
in itself.
meaningful
never
in
in
that
engage
something
reality
doing
can
come,
to
an
end?
sense of
in the broader
it, first, for purely practical,
in order to be able to orient our
for technical, purposes:
the word,
to the
that scientific
activities
experience
expectations
practical
to
at our
Yet this has meaning
Good.
only
practi
places
disposal.
his
of the academic man
towards
tioners. What
is the attitude
vocation ? that is, if he is at all in quest of such a personal attitude?
'
'
that he engages in science for science's sake and not
He maintains
One
does
science, bring about commercial
merely because others, by exploiting
or technical success and can better feed, dress, illuminate, and govern.
to be
into this
does he who
allows himself
But what
integrated
on ad infinitum,
to accom
running
organization,
hope
specialized
in these
that is significant
that are always destined
productions
plish
a few
to be outdated? This
considerations.
general
question requires
most
a
is
the
Scientific
fraction,
fraction,
progress
important
which we have been undergoing
of the process of intellectualization
in
is usually
for thousands
of years and which
judged
nowadays
us
in
what
this
Let
first
such an extremely
clarify
negative way.
created by science and by scientifically
tellectualist
rationalization,
means
oriented
technology,
practically.
in this
Does
it mean that we, today, for instance, everyone
sitting
a
under
which
the
Ufe
of
conditions
of
have
hall,
greater knowledge
we
exist than has an American
Indian or a Hottentot?
Hardly.
one who rides on the streetcar has no idea
he is a
Unless
physicist,
to
And he does not need
how the car
get into motion.
happened
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
'
117
'
on the behavior
to know. He
count
of
is satisfied that he may
to this
the streetcar, and he orients his conduct
expecta
according
about what
it takes to
such a
tion; but he knows nothing
produce
car so that it can move.
more
The
knows
savage
incomparably
we
even
I
about his tools. When
bet
if
that
spend money
today
there are
in
almost
of
the hall,
here
economy
colleagues
political
one of them will hold a different
answer in readiness to the
every
does it
for
that one can buy something
question: How
happen
? sometimes more
and
The
knows
sometimes
less?
money
savage
what he does in order to get his
food and which
institutions
daily
serve him in this
The
intellectualization
and
pursuit.
increasing
do not, therefore,
rationalization
indicate an increased and general
one lives.
of the conditions
under which
knowledge
or belief that
It means
the
else, namely,
something
knowledge
one could learn it at
if one but wished
it means
time.
Hence,
any
that
there are no mysterious
incalculable
forces that
principally
come into
master
but rather that one can, in
all
principle,
play,
means
world
is disenchanted.
calculation.
This
that
the
things by
means
to
in order to
One need no longer have recourse
magical
or
as did the savage, for whom
master
the
such
implore
spirits,
means
existed.
Technical
and
calculations
powers
per
mysterious
means.
form the service. This above all iswhat
intellectualization
to
which
this process
of disenchantment,
has continued
Now,
in
culture
for millennia,
this
exist in Occidental
and,
general,
'
to which
science belongs as a link and motive
force, do
progress,'
that
the
and
have
go beyond
any meanings
they
purely practical
You will find this question raised in the most
technical?
principled
of Leo Tolstoi.
form in the works
He came to raise the question
All his broodings
in a
revolved
around
increasingly
peculiar way.
or not death is a
of whether
the
meaningful
phenomenon.
problem
It
for civilized man death has no meaning.
And his answer was:
life of civilized man,
into
the individual
has none because
placed
'
to its own
an infinite
immanent
according
progress,'
meaning
should never come to an end; for there is always a further step
stands in the march
of progress. And no man
ahead of one who
to die stands upon
comes
the
lies in
which
who
infinity.
peak
'
or some
of
the
died
old
satiated with
and
Abraham,
past,
peasant
'
life because he stood in the organic cycle of life; because his life,
to
had
in terms of its
and on the eve of his
given
meaning
days,
no
life had to offer; because
for him there remained
him what
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
ii8
to solve; and therefore
wish
he could have had
he
puzzles
' might
'
in the midst of the
of life. Whereas
civilized man,
enough
placed
continuous
and
enrichment
of culture by ideas, knowledge,
prob
'
'
'
not
with
tired
of
life
satiated
become
but
life.' He
lems, may
catches only the most minute part of what the life of the spirit brings
forth ever anew, and what he seizes is always something provisional
death for him is a
and therefore
and not definitive,
meaningless
occurrence.
And
death
is
civilized
because
life as
meaningless, '
'
it
its very
such is
gives death the
by
meaningless;
progressiveness
his late novels one meets
of
meaninglessness.
Throughout
imprint
as the
art.
of the Tolstoyan
with
this
keynote
thought
'
'
a
as
such
stand should one take? Has
What
progress
recogniz
so that to serve it
the technical,
able meaning
that goes beyond
must be raised. But this
The
is a meaningful
vocation?
question
the
of man's calling for science, hence,
is no longer
question
merely
to its devoted
of what
science as a vocation means
the
problem
of science
is to ask for the vocation
To raise this
question
disciples.
is the value of science?
within
the total life of humanity. What
the contrast
the past and the present is tremendous.
at the
of the seventh
You will recall the wonderful
beginning
image
cavemen whose
faces are
those enchained
book of Plato's Republic:
them. Behind
them lies the
turned toward the stone wall before
see.
are concerned
source of the
cannot
which
They
they
light
that this light throws upon the wall,
images
only with the shadowy
one of them
and
seek to fathom their interrelations.
Finally
they
in shattering his fetters, turns around, and sees the sun.
succeeds
Blinded, he gropes about and stammers of what he saw. The others
the
he learns to behold
say he is raving. But gradually
light, and
to the cavemen
and to lead them to the
then his task is to descend
Here
between
is the truth of
the sun, however,
is the
He
philosopher;
light.
not
illusions
shadows
but
and
which
alone
seizes
science,
upon
true
the
upon
being.
views science in such a manner?
Well, who
Today youth
today
of science
constructions
the intellectual
feels rather the reverse:
an
with
their
which
realm
of
artificial
unreal
constitute
abstractions,
true
to
the
of
life
without
seek
grasp
blood-and-the-sap
bony hands
ever
for Plato was
it. But here in life, in what
with
up
catching
on
is
of the cave, genuine
the walls
the
of shadows
reality
play
are
and
of life, lifeless ghosts,
derivatives
and the rest
pulsating;
else. How
did this change come about?
nothing
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
119
in The Republic
in the last
enthusiasm
must,
passionate
the first time the concept,
the
fact
that
for
be
analysis,
explained by
one of the
had been con
great tools of all scientific knowledge,
Socrates had discovered
it in its
He
discovered.
sciously
bearing.
was not the
man
to discover
in the world
it. In India one
only
finds the
of a
similar to that of Aris
that is
beginnings
logic
quite
we
totle's. But nowhere
else do
find this realization
of the
signifi
cance of the
a
In
for
the
first
Greece,
time,
concept.
appeared
handy
means
one could
screws
upon somebody
put the logical
by which
so that he could not come out without
either that he
admitting
or that this and
was truth, the eternal
else
knew nothing
nothing
of the blind men
truth that never would
vanish as the doings
which
dawned upon
vanish. That was the tremendous
experience
And
from this it seemed to follow
that
the
of Socrates.
disciples
of
the
the
if one
found the
beautiful,
right concept
good, or,
only
for instance, of bravery, of the soul ? or whatever ? that then one
could also grasp its true being. And this, in turn, seemed to open the
in life and,
and for teaching how to act
for knowing
way
rightly
above all, how to act as a citizen of the state; for this question was
was
to the Hellenic
man, whose
thinking
political
everything
reasons
one
And for these
in science.
engaged
throughout.
the rational
The second great tool of scientific work,
experiment,
at the side of this
of the Hellenic
made
its appearance
discovery
is a means
The
the Renaissance
experiment
period.
spirit during
Without
of reliably controlling
it,
present-day
empirical
experience.
be
There were
science would
earlier; for
experiments
impossible.
were made in the service
instance, in India physiological
experiments
ex
in Hellenic
of ascetic yoga technique;
antiquity, mathematical
were made
for purposes
of war technology;
and in the
periments
But to raise the
of mining.
for purposes
Middle Ages,
experiment
to a
of the Renaissance.
of research was the achievement
principle
were
in art, who were
the
the great innovators
pioneers
They
and his like and, above all, the sixteenth
Leonardo
of
experiment.
were
in music with their experimental
century experimenters
pianos
From these circles the experiment
entered
characteristic.
science,
and it entered
theory through Bacon;
through Galileo,
especially
of the
and then it was taken over by the various exact disciplines
first
of
all
those
of
and
then
those
continental
universities,
Italy
Netherlands.
of the
stood at the threshold
did science mean to these men who
What
Plato's
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
I20
of modern
times? To artistic
of the type of Leonardo
experimenters
to true art, and
and the musical
science meant
the
innovators,
path
that meant
for them the path to true nature. Art was to be raised
to the rank of a science, and this meant at the same time and above
all to raise the artist to the rank of the doctor,
socially and with
to the
is the ambition on which,
reference
of
his
life.
This
meaning
'
for instance, Leonardo's
sketch book was based. And
Sci
today?
'
ence as the
to
nature
to
would
sound
like
way
youth.
blasphemy
the
from the intellec
Today, youth proclaims
redemption
opposite:
tualism of science in order to return to one's own nature and there
with to nature in
Science as away to art? Here no criticism
general.
even
is
needed.
the
of the rise of the exact sciences one ex
during
period
a great deal more.
If you recall Swammerdam's
statement,
pected
'
I
Here
the
of
God's
in
the
bring you
anatomy
proof
providence
of a louse,' you will see what
the scientific worker,
influenced
(in
to be his
and Puritanism,
conceived
directly)
by Protestantism
to God.
no
task: to show the
People
path
longer found this path
the
with
their
and deductions.
All
among
concepts
philosophers,
the
of
above
all
knew
that
God
time,
pietist
theology
Spener,
was not to be found
the Middle
along the road by which
Ages had
are
not
our
him.
God
is
His
His
hidden,
ways
sought
ways,
thoughts
are not our
In the exact sciences, however,
one
where
thoughts.
one
come
could
to
His
works,
grasp
upon the
physically
hoped
?
traces of what He
for the world.
And
planned
today? Who
are indeed found in the natural
aside from certain
children
who
big
sciences ? still believes
that the
of astronomy,
findings
biology,
or
could teach us
about the meaning
physics,
chemistry
anything
of the world?
If there is any such
road
'meaning,'
along what
one
come
could
If these natural sciences
lead to
upon its tracks?
are
in this way,
apt to make the belief that there is
anything
they
a
as the
such
of
the
universe die out at its very roots.
thing
'meaning'
'
as a
And
to
science
God
'? Science,
this
way
finally,
specifically
That
no one will
science
is
irreligious
power?
today
irreligious
even if he will not admit it to him
doubt in his innermost
being,
self.
from the rationalism
and intellectualism
of science
Redemption
is the fundamental
of
in
union
with
the
divine
presupposition
living
or
one
similar
in
is
of
the
fundamental
This,
something
meaning,
one hears
watchwords
are
among German
youth, whose
feelings
attuned to religion or who crave
crave
religious experiences.
They
But
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
121
as such. The
but
only
only religious
experience
experience
that is now followed:
is strange is the method
that
the
thing
spheres
of the irrational, the only spheres that intellectualism
has not yet
now
are
into
consciousness
and
under
its lens.
raised
touched,
put
For in
this is where
the modern
intellectualist
form of
practice
leads. This method
of
from
romantic
irrationalism
emancipation
well
intellectualism
about
the
of
what
may
very opposite
bring
as its
take to it conceive
those who
goal.
'
'
After Nietzsche's
criticism
of those
last men
who
devastating
'
Imay leave aside
invented
the naive
altogether
optimism
happiness,'
science ?that
in which
of mastering
life which
is, the technique
as the
rests upon science ?has
to
been celebrated
way
happiness.
in this? ? aside from a few
Who
children
in university
believes
big
chairs or editorial offices. Let us resume our argument.
is the
these internal presuppositions,
Under
what
of
meaning '
now after all these former illusions, the
science as a vocation,
way
'
'
to true art,' the way
to true
to true nature,' the
the way
being,'
'
'
way to true God,' the way to true happiness,' have been ' dispelled?
Tolstoi
the
has
with
the words:
is
Science
given
simplest answer,
no answer to our
because
it
the
meaningless
gives "
only
question,
we do and how shall we
for us: What
shall
question ' important
live?" That science does not give an answer to this is
indisputable.
The only
that remains is the sense in which
science
question
gives
'
'
no
or not science
be of some use
answer, and whether
might yet
to the one who puts the
question
correctly.
'
one
of science as free from
Today
usually speaks
presuppositions.'
one understands
It
Is there such a
there
thing?
depends upon what
All
scientific work
the
that
rules
of
presupposes
by.
logic and
are valid; these are the
our orienta
method
foundations
of
general
tion in the world;
and, at least for our special question, these presup
are the least
aspect of science. Science further
positions
problematic
that
is
what
is
presupposes
by scientific work
yielded
important
'
in the sense that it is worth
are
In this,
known.'
being
obviously,
contained
cannot
all our
For this
be
problems.
presupposition
means. It can
scientific
be
with
reference
interpreted
proved by
only
to its ultimate
we must
or
meaning, which
accept according
reject
to our ultimate
towards
life.
position
the nature of the
of scientific work
Furthermore,
relationship
to their structure.
and its
varies
presuppositions
widely
according
The natural sciences, for instance,
and astron
physics,
chemistry,
not
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
122
Dcedalus
as self-evident
to know the
that it is worth while
omy, presuppose
ultimate
laws of cosmic events as far as science can construe
them.
one can
is the case not
This
because with
such
only
knowledge
results but for its own sake, if the quest for such
attain technical
can
is to be a 'vocation.'
Yet this
knowledge
by
presupposition
no means be
can
still
it
And
less
be
that the existence
proved
proved.
of the world which
these sciences describe
is worth while,
that it
'
or that it makes
sense to live in such a world.
has any meaning,'
Science
does not ask for the answers to such questions.
a
Consider
modern
which
is
medicine,
technology
practical
'
'
The
of
general
scientifically.
presupposition
highly
developed
is stated
in the assertion that medical
the medical
trivially
enterprise
science has the task of
life as such and of
maintaining
diminishing
as such to the greatest
Yet this is
suffering
possible degree.
problem
man
the medical
atical.
the life of the
his means
preserves
By
us to relieve him of
ill man, even if the
implores
mortally
patient
even
to
if his relatives,
whom
his life isworthless
and to whom
life,
life grow unbearable,
the costs of
his worthless
grant
maintaining
a
from
his
poor lunatic is involved,
redemption
suffering.
Perhaps
it or not, wish and must wish
whose
relatives, whether
they admit
and the penal
for his death. Yet the
of medicine,
presuppositions
the
his
from
code, prevent
physician
relinquishing
therapeutic
efforts. Whether
life is worth while
ques
living and when ?this
tion is not asked
science gives us an answer
Natural
by medicine.
to the
we must do if we wish to master
life tech
question of what
or assumes for its
whether
It leaves
aside,
purposes,
quite
nically.
we
to master
it
life technically
and whether
should and do wish
sense to do so.
makes
ultimately
a
The
such as aesthetics.
fact that there are
Consider
discipline
It seeks to find out under what
for aesthetics.
works
of art is
given
this fact exists, but it does not raise the question whether
conditions
a realm of diabolical
or not the realm of art is
grandeur,
perhaps
a realm of this world,
in its core, hostile to God and,
and therefore,
to the brotherhood
hostile
in its innermost
and aristocratic
spirit,
there should be
does not ask whether
aesthetics
of man. Hence,
of art.
to
It establishes what
is valid
Consider
according
jurisprudence.
is partly bound by logically
the rules of juristic thought, which
and partly by conventionally
Juridical
given schemata.
compelling
of in
holds when
certain legal rules and certain methods
thought
works
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
123
are
as
Whether
there should be
recognized
terpretations
binding.
one should estabUsh
law and whether
these rules ? such ques
just
not answer.
state: If one
tions
It can only
does
jurisprudence
to the norms of our
wishes
this result,
according
legal thought,
means of
this
it.
is
rule
the
legal
appropriate
attaining
the historical
Consider
and cultural sciences.
teach us how
They
to understand
and social
and interpret
artistic, Uterary,
political,
us no answer
in terms of their
But
phenomena
origins.
they give
to the
the existence of these cultural phenomena
question, whether
not answer
have been and are 'worth while.
And
the
they do
to know
further
it is worth
whether
the effort
question,
required
them.
in
that there is an interest
presuppose
They
partaking,
'
this
of the
of
civilized
men.' But
through
community
procedure,'
'
cannot prove
that this is the case; and that
they
scientifically
no means
this
interest
proves that it goes with
they presuppose
by
out
In fact it is not at all self-evident.
saying.
let us consider
the
close to me:
Finally,
disciplines
sociology,
and those types of cultural
economics,
science,
history,
political
that make
it their task to
It is
sciences.
philosophy
interpret these
is out of
in the lecture-room.
said, and I agree, that politics
place
It does not
there on the part of the students.
If, for instance,
belong
in the lecture-room
in
of my
former colleague Dietrich
Sch?fer
to surround his desk and make
an
students were
Berlin, pacifist
as I should
I should
it just as much
the
uproar,
deplore
deplore
are
to
which
students
said
have
made
uproar
anti-pacifist
against
are as remote
as
Professor
in many ways
views
F?rster, whose
could be from mine.
Neither
does
in
however,
politics,
belong
on the
the lecture-room
of
when
the
the
docent
and
docents,
part
is
concerned with
it
there least of all.
scientifically
politics,
belongs
one
To take a
to
stand
is
practical
political
thing, and
analyze
structures
and party
is another. When
political
positions
speaking
one does not hide one's
in a
about
political meeting
democracy,
come
to
out
and take a stand
indeed,
personal
standpoint;
clearly
one uses in such a
is one's damned
The words
duty.
meeting
are not means of scientific
votes
but means of
analysis
canvassing
over others.
are not
to loosen the
and
winning
They
plowshares
soil of
are swords
the enemies:
contemplative
thought; they
against
are
It would
to use
such words
be an outrage, however,
weapons.
in this fashion in a lecture or in the lecture-room.
words
for
If,
'
'
one considers
is under discussion,
its
various
instance,
democracy
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
124
Dcedalus
them in the way
determines what
forms, analyzes
they function,
of life the one form has as
results for the conditions
with
compared
one confronts
the other. Then
the forms of
with non
democracy
to come to a
forms of
order and endeavors
democratic
political
the student may find the
where
from
in terms
which,
position
point
can
a
true
he
But
the
of his ultimate
stand.
take
teacher
ideals,
of
from the
will beware
any political
platform
imposing
position
or
it is
'To let
upon the student, whether
expressed
suggested.
'
the facts
is the most unfair way
for themselves
of
speak
putting
over a
to the student.
political position
I state in advance
abstain from doing
this?
should we
Why
some
are
esteemed
of the
that
that it
highly
colleagues
opinion
to carry
even
is not
this
self-restraint
and
that,
through
possible
to avoid
it would
be a whim
if it were possible,
oneself.
declaring
one cannot demonstrate
an
Now
what
the
scientifically
duty of
can
is. One
of the teacher
that
teacher
demand
academic
only
to see that it is one
to state
he have the intellectual
integrity
thing
or
or
to
the
determine
mathematical
relations
internal
facts,
logical
to answer
structure
it is another
of cultural values, while
thing
contents
of the value of culture
and its individual
and
questions
of how one should act in the cultural
the
community
question
are
These
associations.
and in political
quite heterogeneous
prob
he should not deal with
lems. If he asks further why
both types
in the lecture-room,
the answer is: because the
of problems
prophet
do not belong on the academic
and the demagogue
platform.
'
it is said: Go your ways
and the demagogue,
To the
prophet
to the world,'
out into the streets and
that is,
speak openly
speak
we stand
In the lecture-room
is possible.
where
criticism
opposite
our audience,
I deem it
and it has to remain silent.
irresponsible
to
that for the sake of their career the
the circumstance
exploit
course while
there is nobody
students have to attend a teacher's
to oppose him with
criticism.
The
task of the teacher
is
present
to serve the students with his
and scientific
knowledge
experience
It is
views.
and not to imprint upon them his personal
political
not
that the individual
teacher will
entirely
certainly
possible
He is then
his
in eliminating
succeed
personal
sympathies.
exposed
in the forum of his own conscience.
And
to the
criticism
sharpest
errors are also
does not prove
other
this deficiency
anything;
statements
of fact, and yet they
for instance, erroneous
possible,
I also
the
of
for the truth.
searching
prove nothing
duty
against
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
interest
reject this in the very
from the works
of our historians
introduces
his personal
value
the facts ceases. But this goes
125
to prove
I am
science.
ready
the man of science
that whenever
a full
of
understanding
judgment,
and would
beyond
tonight's
topic
of
require lengthy elucidation.
on the one hand, and
I ask
should a devout Catholic,
only: How
a Freemason,
on the other, in a course on the forms of church and
ever be
state or on
to evaluate
these
religious
history
brought
is out of the
alike?
This
And
the
academic
yet
subjects
question.
teacher must desire and must demand of himself to serve the one
as the other
as well
his
Now
and methods.
you
by
knowledge
will rightly say that the devout Catholic will never accept the view
a
in
of the factors
about
which
bringing
operative
Christianity
to
teacher who
is free of his
presents
dogmatic
presuppositions
him.
The
lies in the
difference,
however,
Certainly!
following:
'
Science
in the sense of a
free from
of
presuppositions,'
rejection
'
'
'
not
the
does
know
of
miracle
and
the
revela
religious bonds,
to its own
tion.' If it did, science would
be unfaithful
'presupposi
tions.' The
knows
and revelation.
believer
And
both, miracle
'
'
no less ? and
science
free from
him
from
expects
presuppositions
no more ? than
that if the process can be explained
acknowledgment
an
ex
without
which
those supernatural
interventions,
empirical
to eliminate
as causal factors, the
to
has
has
be
process
planation
to
can
the
science
do.
And
the
believer
way
attempts
explained
to his faith.
do this without
being disloyal
at all for a man
But has the contribution
of science no
meaning
who
does not care to know facts as such and to whom
only the
con
matters?
science
nevertheless
practical
standpoint
Perhaps
tributes
something.
The
task of a useful teacher is to teach his students to
primary
'
'
inconvenient
facts ? I mean facts that are inconvenient
recognize
for their party
And
for every party
there are
opinions.
opinion
own
no
facts that are extremely
for
inconvenient,
my
opinion
more
I believe the teacher
less than for others.
than
accomplishes
a mere intellectual
task if he
his audience to accustom
itself
compels
to the existence of such facts. I would
be so immodest as even to
'
the
moral achievement,'
though perhaps this may
apply
expression
sound too
for
that should go without
grandiose
something
saying.
reasons for
Thus
far I have
of
practical
spoken only
avoiding
of a
the
of view. But these are not the
imposition
personal point
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
126
only
reasons.
and
The
impossibility
interested
stands ?
of
for
'scientifically'
pleading
means
in
the
except
discussing
reasons that
end ?rests
upon
practical
for a
firmly given and presupposed
lie far
deeper. '
'
in
because
Scientific
is
the
meaningless
pleading
principle
the
in
various value
of
world
stand
irreconcilable
conflict
spheres
Iwill not
with each other. The elder Mill, whose
praise
philosophy
he said: If one
otherwise, was on this point right when
proceeds
one arrives at
is shallow in
This
from pure experience,
polytheism.
formulation
and yet there is truth in it.
and sounds
paradoxical,
we realize
can be sacred
If
again today that something
anything,
not
its not
but rather because and
in
of
beautiful,
only
being
spite
in so far as it is not beautiful.
You will find this documented
in
of the book of Isaiah and in the
chapter
twenty-first
we
can be
realize that
since Nietzsche,
something
in
of the aspect in which
it is not
but
only
spite
good,
rather in that very aspect. You will find this expressed
earlier in
the Fleurs du mal, as Baudelaire
named his volume of poems.
It is
to observe that
true
be
it is
although
something may
commonplace
not
not
not beautiful
true
Indeed it may be
and
and
good.
holy
in
those aspects. But all these are only the most
precisely
elementary
cases of the
struggle that the gods of the various orders and values
are
to decide
in. I do not know how one might wish
engaged
'
'
the
value
of
French
and
German
for here,
culture;
scientifically
now
one another,
with
and
for all
too, different
struggle
gods
the
fifty-third
Psalm. And,
beautiful, not
times
to
come.
their world was not yet dis
live as did the ancients when
we
live in a different
of its gods and demons,
enchanted
only
man
sense. As Hellenic
at times sacrificed
to
and at
Aphrodite
to
above all, as
other times to
sacrificed
and,
everybody
Apollo,
the
of his city, so do we still nowadays,
of
the
only
bearing
gods
man has been disenchanted
but
and denuded of its mystical
inwardly
not
holds sway
Fate, and certainly
'science,'
genuine
plasticity.
can
over these
One
and their struggles.
only understand
gods
is for the one order or for the other, or better,
the
what
godhead
is in the one or in the other order. With
this under
what
godhead
so
as
matter
its
limit
far
the
has
reached
it can be
standing, however,
a
a
and
Yet
the
discussed in lecture-room
great and vital
by
professor.
therein is, of course, very far from
that is contained
being
problem
chairs have their say
But forces other than university
concluded.
in this matter.
We
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
127
man
'
to 'refute
sci
will
the attempt
take upon himself
the Sermon on the Mount?
ethic
of
For
the
instance,
entifically
'resist no evil,' or the image of turning the other
the sentence,
that this is an
cheek? And yet it is clear, in mundane
perspective,
one
to
between
the
ethic of
choose
has
conduct;
religious
undignified
this ethic confers and the
of
conduct
which
dignity
dignity
manly
'resist
?lest
which
evil
you
preaches
something
quite different;
to our
be
for an
evil.'
According
co-responsible
overpowering
ultimate
the one is the devil and the other the God,
standpoint,
is God
and the individual has to decide which
for him and which
is the devil. And so it goes
all the orders of life.
throughout
The
rationalism
of an ethical and methodical
conduct
grandiose
of life which
flows from every
has
dethroned
'religious prophecy
this
in favor of the one
Faced
polytheism
thing that is needful.'
with
the realities of outer and inner life,
has
deemed
Christianity
to make
it necessary
those
and relative
compromises
judgments,
which we all know from its
the routines of every
history. Today
life
day
challenge religion. Many old gods ascend from their graves;
are disenchanted
and hence take the form of
they
impersonal forces.
over our lives and
strive to
resume
They
gain power
again they
one another. What
their eternal
with
is
hard
for
modern
struggle
for the younger
is to measure
man, and especially
generation,
up '
'
to workaday
existence.
The
chase
for
ubiquitous
experience
stems from this weakness;
not to be able to
for it is weakness
countenance
the stern seriousness of our fateful times.
Our civilization
destines us to realize more
clearly these struggles
?
our eyes have been blinded
after
a thousand
for
again,
years
or
blinded
exclusive orientation
towards
by the allegedly
presumably
the grandiose moral
fervor of Christian
ethics.
But
lead far away. Those
of our
enough of these questions which
are in error who
react
to
this
all
'Yes, but we
youth
by saying,
to come to lectures in order to
more
happen
experience
something
than mere
and statements of fact.' The
error
is that
analyses
they
seek in the
different
from
what
stands
before
professor
something
crave a leader and not a teacher. But we are
them.
They
placed
as teachers. And
the
these are two different
upon
platform
solely
as one can
see. Permit me to take
things,
readily
you once more
to America,
because
there one can often observe
such matters
in
What
their most
massive
The American
and
boy
original shape.
learns
unspeakably
less than the German
boy.
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
128
Dcedalus
number
of an incredible
of examinations,
his school Ufe
In
spite
of turning him into an absolute creature
has not had the significance
For in America,
of examinations,
such as the German.
bureaucracy,
as a ticket of admission
examination
which
the
presupposes
diploma
to the realm of office
is
in its
The young
only
beginnings.
prebends,
or
has no respect
for anything
for
tradition
American
anybody,
or for
it is for the
office ?unless
of
achievement
personal
public
'
men.
This
is
what
the
American
calls
individual
democracy.'
is the
of democracy,
This
however
distorted
its intent
meaning
may in reality be, and this intent iswhat matters here. The Amer
of the teacher who
ican's
faces him is: he sells me his
conception
as the
his methods
for my
father's money,
and
just
knowledge
be
sells
mother
And
that
is
To
all.
sure,
greengrocer
my
cabbage.
to be a football
if the teacher
in this field,
then,
coach,
happens
he is a leader. But if he is not this (or something
similar in a different
a teacher and
more. And no
field of
is
he
nothing
sports),
simply
the
sell him a
think
teacher
American
would
of
young
having
or
a
in
when
code
of
conduct.
formulated
Now,
Weltanschauung
is whether
this manner, we
should reject this. But the question
I have
there is not a grain of salt contained
in this feeling, which
some
extreme
stated in
with
exaggeration.
deUberately
students!
Fellow
You come to our lectures and demand
from
us the
to realize in advance
of
and
fail
you
qualities
leadership,
at least
that of a hundred professors
do not and must
ninety-nine
not claim to be football masters
in the vital
of life, or
problems
'
'
even to be
in matters
leaders
of conduct.
Please, consider that a
on whether
or not he has leader
man's value does not
depend
a man
in any case, the
And
that make
qualities
ship qualities.
an excellent
are not the
scholar and academic
teacher
qualities
him a leader to
direction
in
that make
life or,
give
practical
more
It is pure accident
in
if a teacher
politics.
specifically,
this
and it is a critical
situation
if every
also possesses
quality,
feels himself confronted
with
the students'
teacher on the
platform
It is still more
that the teacher should claim this quality.
expectation
critical if it is left to every academic
teacher to set himself up as a
think of
For those who most
leader in the lecture-room.
frequently
as leaders often
themselves
least as leaders. But
qualify
irrespective
are or are not, the
of whether
situation
offers
they
platform
simply
no
of proving themselves to be leaders. The
who
professor
possibility
feels called upon to act as a counselor
of
and enjoys their
youth
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
129
a man
trust may
in
human relations with
prove himself
personal
if he feels called upon to intervene
them. And
in the
of
struggles
in the
world
views
he may
and party opinions,
do so outside,
in the press, in
in associations, wherever
market
meetings,
place,
too convenient
to demon
But after all, it is somewhat
he wishes.
strate one's
a stand where
the audience and
courage in taking
possible
are condemned
to silence.
opponents
'
will put the
If this is so, what
then does
Finally, you
question:
to
science actually and
contribute
and
practical
positively
personal
we are back
at the
"life"?'
Therewith
of science
again
problem
'
as
a
vocation.'
to the
of control
First, of course, science contributes
technology
as well
as man's activities.
life
external
ling
by calculating
objects
Well, you will say, that, after all, amounts to no more than the green
I
grocer of the American
boy.
fully agree.
can
science
contribute
that the greengrocer
Second,
something
cannot: methods
the tools and the
of
training for thought.
thinking,
no
will
that
is
but it amounts to
say: well,
Perhaps you
vegetable,
no more than the means for
and
vegetables. Well
procuring
good,
let us leave it at that for
today.
the contribution
of science does not reach
however,
Fortunately,
are in a
to
to a third
its limit with
this. We
position
help you
to
it
is
Of
that we
course,
gain clarity.
objective:
presupposed
ourselves possess
As far as this is the case, we can make
clarity.
clear to you the
following:
can take this or that
In
when
concerned
practice, you
position
a
with
of
?for
value
sake, please think of
problem
simplicity's
as
social
take
such
and such a stand,
If you
phenomena
examples.
to scientific
to use such and
have
then, according
you
experience,
such a means
in order to carry out your conviction
practically.
are
these means
such that you believe you must
Now,
perhaps
must choose between
the end and
reject them. Then you simply
'
'
the inevitable means.
Does
the end
the means?
Or does
justify
it not? The
teacher can confront
with
the
of this
you
necessity
so
cannot do more,
as he wishes
He
to remain a
choice.
long
a
teacher and not to become
He can, of course, also
demagogue.
tell you that if you want
such and such an end, then you must
take into the
the
which
bargain
subsidiary consequences
according
to all
occur.
we find ourselves
will
in the same
experience
Again
are still
situation as before. These
that can also emerge
problems
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
13?
in numerous
for the technician, who
instances has to make decisions
to the
of the lesser evil or of the
principle
according
relatively
to him one
is
best. Only
thing, the main ' thing, ' usually
given,
are at
the end. But as soon as
ultimate
namely,
truly
problems
at
we
come
to
stake for us this is not the case. With
this,
long last,
the final service that science as such can render to the aim of
clarity,
and at the same time we come to the limits of science.
Besides we can and we should state: In terms of its meaning,
such
stand can be derived with
and such a
inner
consistency,
practical
from this or that ultimate weltanschauliche
and hence
integrity,
it can only be derived
from one such funda
position.
Perhaps
or
from several, but it cannot be derived
mental
position,
maybe
or
these
those
from
other
positions.
Figuratively
speaking,
serve this
when
offend
the other
you
you
god and you
god
to adhere to this
remain
decide
And
if you
faithful
position.
come to certain final conclusions
to
you will necessarily
yourself,
sense. This much,
at least, can
in
that
make
subjectively
principle
as a
be
and the
accomplished.
Philosophy,
special
discipline,
in the other sciences
discussions of
essentially philosophical
principles
to achieve this. Thus,
in our
if we are competent
attempt
pursuit
we
can
must
force
the
be
individual,
(which
here)
presupposed
or at least we can
to
himself an account of the ultimate
help him,
give
me as not so
own
his
conduct.
This
meaning
of
appears to
trifling
a
to do, even for one's own
I am
life.
thing
Again,
tempted
personal
to
of a teacher who
succeeds in this: he stands in the service of
' say '
moral
he
the
of
about self-clarifica
fulfils
forces;
duty
bringing
tion and a sense of
And I believe he will be the more
responsibility.
he avoids the
able to accomplish
this, the more
conscientiously
to his audience
or
to
his
desire
suggest
personally
impose upon
own
stand.
of
I present here,
its
which
always takes
point
proposition,
that so long as life
from the one fundamental
fact,
departure
in its own terms, it knows
remains
immanent
and is
interpreted
one another. Or
of an
of
these
gods with
struggle
only
unceasing
life
toward
attitudes
the ultimately
speaking
directly,
possible
are irreconcilable,
and hence their struggle can never be brought
to make a decisive choice.
to a final conclusion.
it is necessary
Thus
'
'
aworth while
science
is
vocation
such
under
conditions,
Whether,
valu
itself has an objectively
for somebody,
science
and whether
are
about which
able 'vocation'
value
nothing
judgments
again
This
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
and Motifs
Texts
can be said in the lecture-room.
for
affirm the value
To
there.
I
I31
of science
is a
very work
the stand
teaching
by my
presupposition
personally
answer in the affirmative, and I also do so from
precisely
as the worst
hates intellectualism
does
devil, as youth
point that
or
it does.
In that case the word holds
fancies
today,
usually only
'
Mind you, the devil is old; grow old to under
for these
youths:
stand him.' This does not mean age in the sense of the birth certifi
to settle with
cate. It means that if one wishes
this devil, one must
so
not take to
as
to
First
like
before him
do nowadays.
many
flight
to the end in order to realize
of all, one has to see the devil's ways
his power and his limitations.
'
'
in
is a vocation
Science
in
organized
today
special disciplines
the service of self-clarification
facts.
of interrelated
and knowledge
seers and
It is not the
sacred
gift of grace of
dispensing
prophets
nor does it
of
values and revelations,
of the
partake
contemplation
and
the
of
the
universe.
about
This,
sages
meaning
philosophers
to be sure, is the
condition
of our historical
situation.
inescapable
as we remain true to ourselves.
cannot evade it so
We
And
long
recurs to
as science does not, who
is to
if Tolstoi's
you:
question
answer
we
the question:
'What
how
shall
shall we
do, and,
our
in
lives?' or,
the words
used here tonight:
'Which
arrange
we serve? Or should we serve
of the warring
should
gods
perhaps
an
who
different
is he?' then one can say that
god, and
entirely
a
or a savior can
the answers.
If there is no such
only
prophet
give
is no longer believed
man, or if his message
in, then you will cer
not
to appear on this earth
tainly
compel him
by having thousands
as
as
of
the
of
state,
attempt
petty
professors,
hirelings
privileged
to take over his role. All
in their lecture-rooms
will
prophets
they
are unaware
is to show that
state
the
of
decisive
accomplish
they
so
our
of affairs: the
for whom
of
many
younger
gener
prophet
ation yearn
does not exist. But this knowledge
in its force
simply
ful significance
has never become
vital for them. The
inward
'
'
man can never be served
interest of a
musical
truly religiously
to him and to others the fundamental
fact that he is
by veiling
to live in a
destined
and
time
godless
by giving him
prophetless
the ersatz of armchair
The
of his
prophecy.
religious
integrity
seems to me, must rebel
organ, it
against this.
Now
you will be inclined to 'say: Which ' stand does one take
towards the factual existence
of
and its claims to be a
theology
'
us
not
science '? Let
flinch and evade the answer. To be sure,
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
132
'
'
'
'
do not exist
and dogmas
but neither do
universally,
theology
in time),
for
alone. Rather
backward
exist
(going
they
Christianity
form also in Islam, in Manicheanism,
in
exist
they
highly developed
in Buddhism,
in the Hindu
in
in Parsism,
in Gnosticism,
Orphism,
of
in Judaism.
in
and
the
in
course,
sects,
and,
Taoism,
Upanishads,
It is no
varies greatly.
To be sure their systematic
development
? in contrast to the
accident that Occidental
theological
Christianity
more
of Jewry ? has expanded and elaborated
theology
possessions
or strives to do so. In the Occident
the
develop
systematically,
ment of
had by far the greatest historical
has
significance.
theology
and all theology
of the
of the Hellenic
is the
This
spirit,
product
to it, as
of the East goes
all
back
West
theology
goes
(obviously)
an intellectual
back to Indian thought. All
represents
theology
is
of sacred values. No
science
of the possession
rationalization
and no science can prove its
free from presuppositions,
absolutely
these
value to the man who
fundamental
rejects
presuppositions.
a
for
few
adds
however,
specific presuppositions
theology,
Every
and thus for the justification of its existence. Their mean
its work
for instance Hindu
and scope vary. Every
including
theology,
ing
must
have a meaning,
world
the
that
ist theology,
presupposes
so that it is
to
this
is
how
and the question
meaning
interpret
conceivable.
intellectually
He
took for his
It is the same as with Kant's
epistemology.
'
exists and
Scientific
truth
the presupposition:
of departure
point
'
of
which
and then asked: Under
it is valid,'
presuppositions
'
The
modern
aestheticians
is truth possible and meaningful?
thought
from
as for instance, G. v. Lukacs)
or
proceed '
expressly,
(actually
'
How
art
of
that works
the presupposition
exist,' and then ask:
and
is their existence meaningful
possible?'
do not content
themselves with
As a rule, theologies,
however,
and
this (essentially
They
presupposition.
philosophical)
religious
that certain
from the further presupposition
proceed
regularly
and as such make
for salvation
are facts relevant
'revelations'
these revelations
of life. Hence,
a
conduct
meaningful
possible
that certain
in. Moreover,
must be believed
presuppose
theologies
that is,
of holiness,
states and acts possess the quality
subjective
or
of
at
elements
a
least
of
one, that is
constitute
life,
way
they
is: How
of theology
the
Then
question
meaningful.
religiously
be
must
be
which
can these
simply
accepted,
presuppositions,
For
a
of
the
universe?
view
in
theology,
interpreted
meaningfully
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Texts
and Motifs
133
'
as such lie
the limits of
science.'
presuppositions
beyond
'
do not represent
in
the
but
usual
rather
sense,
They
knowledge,' '
'
'
a
or
not
Whoever
does
other
the
faith,
possess
possession.'
holy
as a substitute
for them, least of all
states, cannot have theology
'
'
in every
any other science. On the contrary,
theology,
positive
the devout
sentence
reaches
the point where
the
Augustinian
non
est.
holds: credo
quod, sed quia absurdum
? the
The
for the
of
capacity
accomplishment
religious virtuosos
'
'?
intellectual
is the decisive characteristic
sacrifice
of the
positively
man. That
so is shown
is
this
the
fact
that in
religious
by
spite (or
rather in
of
the tension
unveils
(which
it)
consequence)
theology
'
'
'
'
between
of science
the value-spheres
and the
of the
sphere
' holy
is
intellec
unbridgeable. ' Legitimately,
only the disciple offers the
to the
tual sacrifice
to the church. Never
the
believer
prophet,
as
(and I repeat here deliberately
yet has a new prophecy
emerged
this
which
has
offended
some) by way of the need of some
image
to furnish their souls with,
modern
so to
intellectuals
speak, guar
anteed
In
to remember
that
so,
genuine antiques.
doing
they happen
has
such
and
of
all
among
religion
belonged
antiques,
things religion
not
is what
possess. By way of substitute, however,
they do
they
at
a sort of domestic
with
small sacred
play
decorating
chapel
over the world,
or
images from all
surrogates through
they produce
all sorts of
to which
ascribe the
psychic
experiences
dignity
they
of
in the book market.
This
holiness, which
mystic
they peddle
or
is plain
no
It
is, however,
humbug
self-deception.
humbug but
rather
some
sincere
and
the
if
of
very
something
genuine
youth
recent
who
have
groups
years
during
quietly grown
together give
their human
the
of a
cosmic,
community
interpretation
religious,
or
such
relation, although occasionally
mystical
perhaps
interpreta
tion rests on
as it is that
of self. True
every
misunderstanding
act of
brotherliness
be
linked
the awareness that
with
genuine
may
it contributes
to a
realm, it
imperishable
something
super-personal
seems to me dubious whether
the
of
human
and
dignity
purely
communal
relations
is enhanced
these
by
religious
interpretations.
But that is no
our theme.
longer
The fate of our times is characterized
rationalization
and intel
' by
lectualization
of the world.'
and, above all, by the disenchantment
the ultimate
and most sublime values have retreated from
Precisely
life
either
into
the transcendental
realm of
life or
public
mystic
into the brotherliness
of direct and
human
relations.
It is
personal
these
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Dcedalus
134
that our greatest art is intimate and not monumental,
that
within
the smallest and intimate
today only
in
in
human
that
circles,
situations,
pianissimo,
personal
something
to the
that
is
in
pneuma, which
pulsating
corresponds
prophetic
former times swept
the great communities
like a firebrand,
through
'
'
a
If we attempt to force and to
them together.
invent
welding
are
momumental
in art, such miserable monstrosities
style
produced
as the
of the last twenty
If one tries
many monuments
years.
to construe new
a new and
intellectually
religions without
genuine
an inner sense,
similar will result, but
in
then,
prophecy,
something
with
still worse
effects. And academic
will create
finally,
prophecy,
sects but never a
fanatical
only
community.
genuine
To the person who cannot bear the fate of the times like a man,
one must
he rather return
without
the usual
say: may
silently,
of
and
The arms
but
renegades,
publicity
simply
plainly.
build-up
are
of the old churches
and
for
opened widely
compassionately
or
not
him. After
it
him.
do
make
hard
for
One
all, they
way
'
'? that is inevi
another he has to
his
intellectual
sacrifice
bring
table. If he can really do it, we shall not rebuke him. For such an
intellectual
sacrifice in favor of an unconditional
religious devotion
a different matter
is
the evasion of the
than
ethically
quite
plain
sets in if one lacks the courage
of intellectual
duty
integrity, which
to
one's own ultimate
this
and rather facilitates
clarify
standpoint
In
feeble
such
relative
eyes,
my
duty by
religious
judgments.
return stands
does not
which
higher than the academic prophecy,
no other
in the lecture-rooms
of the university
clearly realize that
virtue holds but
intellectual
however,
Integrity,
integrity.
plain
us to state that for the
new
who
many
compels
today tarry for
in the
is the same as resounds
the situation
and
saviors,
prophets
beautiful Edomite watchman's
song of the period of exile that has
been included among Isaiah's oracles:
not accidental
nor
is it accidental
He calleth to me out of Seir,Watchman,
what of the night? The watch
man said, The morning
cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire,
enquire
ye:
return,
come.
to whom
and tarried for
this was said has enquired
The
people
more
and we are shaken when we realize its
than two millennia,
to draw the lesson that
is gained
fate. From this we want
nothing
we shall act
We
and
and
alone,
differently.
tarrying
by yearning
'
the
of the
in human
demands
and meet
shall set to work
day,'
as well
as in our vocation.
is
relations
however,
This,
plain and
finds and obeys the demon who holds the fibers of
if
each
simple,
his very life.
This content downloaded from 192.54.242.155 on Wed, 16 Dec 2015 23:37:05 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions