3. French neo-criticism has taken up again and developed this concept of Kant's. The affirmation of moral truths is a duty but as duty is an object of liberty the affirmation of moral truths remains free so that it is dependent on the will. But here the will is exempt from free will. It can therefore say yes or no equally almost because the reasons for affirming remain: it is this powerful moral interest that Duty presents. But ultimately it depends on us to affirm or deny. The will throws its weight into the balance and it brings forth belief and belief becomes certainty simply when it is strong, when the will is entirely on one side. Here is the theory of neo-criticism and among the disciples of this school it can be extended further. It is possible in consequence to connect all certainties to moral certainty by showing that all the truths of knowledge and speculation relate to principles and that the principles themselves whatever their evidence can be denied. So that there is a certain moral interest in affirming them in this way: any affirmation would arise either directly or indirectly from the will.
4. Discussion of this theory.
Saturday two o'clock. Of the experimental method. Oppose it to the interior method.
BNF NAF 16611 45r - 45v. Philosophy notes, possibly from Victor
Egger's's course at The Sorbonne, 1894. Neo-criticism was created by Charles Renouvier (1815-1903) in response to the philosophy of Kant.
Created 28.01.26