The Antichrist

10.

Among Germans I am immediately understood when I say that theological blood is the ruin of philosophy. The Protestant pastor is the grandfather of German philosophy; Protestantism itself is its peccatum originale. Definition of Protestantism: hemiplegic paralysis of Christianity—and of reason…. One need only utter the words "Tübingen School" to get an understanding of what German philosophy is at bottom—a very artful form of theology…. The Suabians are the best liars in Germany; they lie innocently…. Why all the rejoicing over the appearance of Kant that went through the learned world of Germany, three–fourths of which is made up of the sons of preachers and teachers—why the German conviction still echoing, that with Kant came a change for the better? The theological instinct of German scholars made them see clearly just what had become possible again…. A backstairs leading to the old ideal stood open; the concept of the "true world," the concept of morality as the essence of the world (—the two most vicious errors that ever existed!), were once more, thanks to a subtle and wily scepticism, if not actually demonstrable, then at least no longer refutable…. Reason, the prerogative of reason, does not go so far…. Out of reality there had been made "appearance"; an absolutely false world, that of being, had been turned into reality…. The success of Kant is merely a theological success; he was, like Luther and Leibnitz, but one more impediment to German integrity, already far from steady.