Introduction 2

Not only in the world of commerce but also in the world of ideas our age has arranged a regular clearance-sale. Everything may be had at such absurdly low prices that very soon the question will arise whether any one cares to bid. Every waiter with a speculative turn who carefully marks the significant progress of modern philosophy, every lecturer in philosophy, every tutor, student, every sticker-and-quitter of philosophy—they are not content with doubting everything, but "go right on." It might, possibly, be ill-timed and inopportune to ask them whither they are bound; but it is no doubt polite and modest to take it for granted that they have doubted everything—else it were a curious statement for them to make, that they were proceeding onward. So they have, all of them, completed that preliminary operation and, it would seem, with such ease that they do not think it necessary to waste a word about how they did it. The fact is, not even he who looked anxiously and with a troubled spirit for some little point of information, ever found one, nor any instruction, nor even any little dietetic prescription, as to how one is to accomplish this enormous task. "But did not Descartes proceed in this fashion?" Descartes, indeed! that venerable, humble, honest thinker whose writings surely no one can read without deep emotion—Descartes did what he said, and said what he did. Alas, alas! that is a mighty rare thing in our times! But Descartes, as he says frequently enough, never uttered doubts concerning his faith....

Our age has organized a clearance sale, not only in commerce but also in the world of ideas. Everything is offered at such absurdly low prices that soon the question will arise whether anyone cares to bid. Take every philosophically minded waiter who carefully follows the significant progress of modern philosophy. Take every philosophy lecturer, every tutor, every student, and everyone who dabbles in philosophy and then drops it. They are not content with doubting everything, but "go right on." Perhaps asking where they are headed would be badly timed and unwelcome. But surely it is polite and modest to assume that they have doubted everything. Otherwise, their claim to be moving forward would be a curious one. So all of them have completed this preliminary task. And apparently they have done so with such ease that they see no need to explain how. In fact, even someone anxiously searching with a troubled mind has never found the slightest information about this. Nor has such a searcher found any instructions, or even a little health advice, on accomplishing this enormous task. "But did not Descartes proceed in this fashion?" Descartes, indeed! That venerable, humble, honest thinker, whose writings surely no one can read without being deeply moved! Descartes did what he said and said what he did. Alas, alas! That is a very rare thing in our times! But Descartes, as he says often enough, never expressed doubts about his faith....

In our times, as was remarked, no one is content with faith, but "goes right on." The question as to whither they are proceeding may be a silly question; whereas it is a sign of urbanity and culture to assume that every one has faith, to begin with, for else it were a curious statement for them to make, that they are proceeding further. In the olden days it was different. Then, faith was a task for a whole life-time because it was held that proficiency in faith was not to be won within a few days or weeks. Hence, when the tried patriarch felt his end approaching, after having fought his battles and preserved his faith, he was still young enough at heart not to have forgotten the fear and trembling which disciplined his youth and which the mature man has under control, but which no one entirely outgrows—except insofar as he succeeds in "going on" as early as possible. The goal which those venerable men reached at last—at that spot every one starts, in our times, in order to "proceed further."...

In our time, as already noted, no one is content with faith, but "goes right on." Asking where these people are going may be a silly question. By contrast, assuming that everyone already has faith is a sign of sophistication and culture. Otherwise, claiming to go further would be a strange thing for them to say. In the old days, things were different. Back then, faith was a lifelong task. People believed that becoming skilled in faith took more than a few days or weeks. So when the patriarch, tested by hardship, felt death approaching, he had fought his battles and kept his faith. Yet he remained young enough at heart to remember the fear and trembling that had disciplined him in his youth. A mature man keeps that fear and trembling under control, but no one entirely outgrows them. The exception is anyone who manages to "go on" as early as possible. The goal those revered men finally reached is where everyone today begins, in order to "proceed further."...