Karl Jaspers citáty
Karl Jaspers
Datum narození: 23. únor 1883
Datum úmrtí: 26. únor 1969
Další jména: Karl Theodor Jaspers
Karl Jaspers byl německý filosof a lékař, specializující se na psychiatrii, jeden z nejdůležitějších představitelů existencialismu.
Citáty Karl Jaspers
„Beznaděj je vlastně porážkou. Nesmíme se jí oddat, dokud jsme ještě schopni něco dělat.“
— Karl Jaspers
(en) …die Hoffnungslosigkeit ist schon die vorweggenommene Niederlage. Sie ist nicht erlaubt, solange der Mensch noch etwas zu tun vermag.
Source: [Schene, Michael, 2010, Die Bewegung, die Weisen und der Einzelne: Karl Jaspers' Philosophie zwischen Nicht-Wissen und Seinsgewissheit, Königshausen & Neumann, 239, němčina]
„Přítel, který člověka zrazuje za zády.“
— Karl Jaspers
o Martinu Heideggerovi
Source: [Ettingerová, Elzbieta, Hannah Arendtová a Martin Heidegger, Academia, 1, Praha, 2004, 80-200-1167-6, Nový, namáhavý začátek, 133, česky]
„Člověk dnes stojí před alternativami: zánik člověka, nebo jeho proměna.“
— Karl Jaspers
(en) Der denkende Mensch muß heute auf das Äußerste des totalen Untergangs, … Er steht heute vor der Alternative: entweder Untergang der Menschheit oder Wandlung des Menschen.
Source: [Brose, Karl, 1996, Friedensphilosophie und Friedenserziehung: von Kant bis Adorno, Die Blaue Eule, 51, němčina]
„Our own power of generation lies in the rebirth of what has been handed down to us. If we do not wish to slip back, nothing must be forgotten; but if philosophising is to be genuine our thoughts must arise from our own source. Hence all appropriation of tradition proceeds from the intentness of our own life. The more determinedly I exist, as myself, within the conditions of the time, the more clearly I shall hear the language of the past, the nearer I shall feel the glow of its life.“
— Karl Jaspers
On My Philosopy (1941), Context: Our questions and answers are in part determined by the historical tradition in which we find ourselves. We apprehend truth from our own source within the historical tradition.
The content of our truth depends upon our appropriating the historical foundation. Our own power of generation lies in the rebirth of what has been handed down to us. If we do not wish to slip back, nothing must be forgotten; but if philosophising is to be genuine our thoughts must arise from our own source. Hence all appropriation of tradition proceeds from the intentness of our own life. The more determinedly I exist, as myself, within the conditions of the time, the more clearly I shall hear the language of the past, the nearer I shall feel the glow of its life.
„The Greek word for philosopher (philosophos) connotes a distinction from sophos. It signifies the lover of wisdom (knowledge) as distinguished from him who considers himself wise in the possession of knowledge. This meaning of the word still endures: the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth.“
— Karl Jaspers
Context: The Greek word for philosopher (philosophos) connotes a distinction from sophos. It signifies the lover of wisdom (knowledge) as distinguished from him who considers himself wise in the possession of knowledge. This meaning of the word still endures: the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth. … Philosophy means to be on the way. Its questions are more essential than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.
Way to Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy (1951) as translated by Ralph Mannheim, Ch. 1, What is Philosophy?, p. 12
Variant translation: It is the search for the truth, not possession of the truth which is the way of philosophy. Its questions are more relevant than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.
„On the other hand, it may arise by the working of a fate to us still inscrutable which, out of ruin, will disclose a way towards the development of a new human being. To will the discovery of this way would be blind impotence, but those who do not wish to deceive themselves will be prepared for the possibility.“
— Karl Jaspers
Man in the Modern Age (1933), Context: The vicious circle of dread of war which leads the nations to arm themselves for self-protection, with the result that bloated armaments ultimately lead to the war which they were intended to avert, can be broken in either of two conceivable ways. There might arise a unique world power, brought into being by the unification of all those now in possession of weapons, and equipped with the capacity to forbid the lesser and unarmed nations to make war. On the other hand, it may arise by the working of a fate to us still inscrutable which, out of ruin, will disclose a way towards the development of a new human being. To will the discovery of this way would be blind impotence, but those who do not wish to deceive themselves will be prepared for the possibility.<!-- p. 97
„I approach the presentation of Kierkegaard with some trepidation. Next to Nietzsche, or rather, prior to Nietzsche, I consider him to be the most important thinker of our post-Kantian age.“
— Karl Jaspers, The Great Philosophers
Context: I approach the presentation of Kierkegaard with some trepidation. Next to Nietzsche, or rather, prior to Nietzsche, I consider him to be the most important thinker of our post-Kantian age. With Goethe and Hegel, an epoch had reached its conclusion, and our prevalent way of thinking — that is, the positivistic, natural-scientific one — cannot really be considered as philosophy.
The Great Philosophers (1962)
„It may stamp all flat; it is disinclined to tolerate independence and greatness, but prone to constrain people to become as automatic as ants.“
— Karl Jaspers
Man in the Modern Age (1933), Context: The masses are our masters; and for every one who looks facts in the face his existence has become dependent on them, so that the thought of them must control his doings, his cares, and his duties.
Even an articulated mass always tends to become unspiritual and inhuman. It is life without existence, superstitions without faith. It may stamp all flat; it is disinclined to tolerate independence and greatness, but prone to constrain people to become as automatic as ants.<!-- p. 43
