Chapter 1 - Philosophy As A Creative Act

 

Science does not know Truth but knows only truths. Philosophy is a general orientation to the whole of Being and not a partial orientation in partial conditions of Being. Philosophy seeks the Truth, not truths.

 

The nature of philosophy is not at all economic. Philosophy is more often a squandering than an economy of thinking. There is something of the holiday in philosophy. 

 

Intuition is a sympathetic living-into the world, entering into the essence of the world.

 

Creativeness must not be lowered in quality for the sake of a larger common ground and general acceptance, i.e. a greater conformity to the lower forms of communion—this is a sin against the Holy Ghost.

 

Every creative act strives towards the transcendent, towards passing beyond the borders of the given world. 

 

Logic is only a ladder by which intuitive philosophy descends to the given world.

 

Philosophic knowing rests upon intuition, i.e. upon a sympathetic, loving penetration into the essence of things, rather than upon scientific analysis which leaves us outside things, merely on their surface.

 

Metaphysical intuition is not only a true penetration into the real actuality, it is also an active, creative resistance to the given condition of reality for the sake of an upsurge towards the higher meaning of being. 

 

Philosophic knowledge cannot be only a passive, obedient reflection of being, of the world, of actuality—it must be an active, creative overcoming of actuality and a transfiguration of the world.

 

In the creative, knowing act of philosophy there is an upsurge towards another being, another world, daring to approach the ultimate mystery.

 

Philosophy is not, like religion, a revelation of God—it is the revelation of Man, but of man as participant in the Logos, part of the absolute man, the all-man, and not a closed individual being. 

 

The philosopher is a free man, independent of the world, a man who refuses to adapt himself. The philosopher cannot serve the nation or political parties, he cannot serve academic or professional aims. The philosopher cannot serve the good of mankind; he cannot be in service to anyone or any personal human purposes.

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CHAPTER 2 - Man, Microcosm and Macrocosm >>

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