German Philosophers

I am glad I read this book. Not because I found it easy to read –which it is not but soporific at times- but because these 4 philosophers belong together. Kant feeds into Hegel, who is quenched by Schopenhauer, and found their total rejection in Nietzsche. I explain.

Kant sets the limits of knowledge: we cannot know reality but through the colors of reason. Hegel comes and tells us that we are historical objects defined by an absolute reason operating in time. Schopenhauer then says that it is not reason but an unconscious thing –the will- that makes slaves in its drive to procreation. Finally, Nietzsche appears and tells us that all this is rubbish, that this line of questioning is an exercise in futility when we live as vicious animal.

Kant? Read only the Critic of Pure Reason. The rest is junk because a rational life is really not worth living. Hegel? Do not bother because he confuses correlation with association –if reason and the real come together, how come reason originates the real. How did he come to that knowledge? Intuition? Etc. - and in his madness creates a logical dialectical system without soul. Hegel is the best example for 'History tells the man.' Of course Hegel is important. Many millions are dead because of his insanity.

Schopenhauer? Read only if you want to get depressed. To follow Scho is to turn blue. A wealthy man, he did not work but passed his time complaining about his lack of fame and attending the theater. That explains a lot about his views. There is no hope nor freedom in the man.

Nietzche? The master key to understand the misery of our times. Start with ‘Beyond Good and Evil’ and then go deeper. Get ready for the heroic or cry in your loneliness.

That is what I learned with the book. Worthy reading.