Thought and the Fear of Doing
Striped Insights
-Zebra, what do you think of the fact that philosophers are sometimes worshipped almost religiously? Okapi asks with a sly look on its face.
-Is that a trick question? - Zebra wants to know.
-No, it's meant seriously, with an open outcome, assures Okapi. -I'm only asking because I noticed that at a conference the other day... and then I remembered that philosophy was linked to theology for a long time.
-Ancilla theologiae! quotes Zebra with satisfaction. -Indeed. But what are the circumstances? What was it about?
-You will laugh. A male genius. Someone who would have been 300 years old this year.
-Are there other geniuses than men? Zebra asks with an innocent expression.
Okapi snorts.
-So you mean Immanuel Kant? Zebra asks. -But he really was quite extraordinary, you have to admit.
Okapi nods. -Of course, I won't deny that. Nevertheless, there are some observations on his part that clearly stem from the time, the circumstances and a certain research situation. How he judged people from other parts of the world or what he thought of animals... I won't even go into that now. A critical mind is required if you want to deal with this - and adopting thoughts or arguments one-to-one is probably more the religious style. And in this context, I find it highly astonishing, not to say shocking, that his words are taken at face value...
-... like some people who take the Bible literally? Is that what you mean?” asks Zebra.
-Exactly. Specifically, it was about the description of how the ox perceives the stable. Admittedly, an avant-garde mind game for someone who describes man as the center and pivot of the universe. But, and this is my objection: how does Kant know this? Personally, I like the fact that he tries to imagine this, but always from this - how shall I put it - somewhat inferior perspective of the inferior being. Completely underexposed intellectually, as he perceived animals. What's more, he had hardly any contact with real animals in the everyday context of his life. Apart from the fact that it is difficult to evaluate behavior when the animal lives in forced conditions - in captivity.
-I understand that this annoys you. But you can't really be surprised if you look at the surroundings at the time... interjects Zebra.
-That wasn't the point! Okapi replies excitedly. -The really absurd thing was what the lecturer answered when asked why this observation should be true!
-You 're creating suspense now!
Okapi takes a deep breath. -The answer was: Because Kant was so exceptional in the field of imagination, as well as in other fields, he was able to grasp it precisely. And as proof, it was cited that he also knew how to describe the sublime with mountain landscapes - even though he had never been there.
-That's not true, is it? It can't be.
-Yet, that's exactly how it happened. I was speechless. How are students of philosophy supposed to learn to think for themselves, and critically, with such an approach? And what's more, the professor was by no means old.
-Kyrie eleis, I can only say, quips Zebra.
-That won't help in this case. No, I'll tell you my conclusion now, says Okapi. -And I say it encouragingly and with good intentions. There are many philosophers who don't want to have anything to do with practice and the provisional consequence of this, for me, is that they are afraid of losing the ground under their feet if they venture out of their theoretical building. But that is necessary! Only then can there be insight.
-Yes, there is something noble about combining theory with practice! I think that is often a challenge.
-Obviously especially for philosophy. There's still plenty of room for improvement, says Okapi emphatically. -And now I'm going for a walk.
-I'll walk with you. Because it's not the same if I just imagine it, says Zebra with a soft look in its eyes.
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