Ideas of J.G. Hamann, by Theme

[German, 1730 - 1788, Born at Königsberg (the home town of Immanuel Kant).]

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11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs

20945	Belief is no more rational than is tasting and smelling
	Full Idea: Belief happens as little in terms of reasons as tasting and smelling.
	From: J.G. Hamann (works [1770], v2:74), quoted by Andrew Bowie - Introduction to German Philosophy
	A reaction: That is one idea definitively expressed! I take it as only a partial truth. Beliefs happen as a result of observation and experience. But someone can draw our attention to something (and we can hunt it out ourselves), which is giving a reason for belief.

28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature

7666	God is not a mathematician, but a poet
	Full Idea: Hamann's fundamental doctrine was that God was not a geometer, not a mathematician, but a poet.
	From: report of J.G. Hamann (works [1770]) by Isaiah Berlin - The Roots of Romanticism Ch.3
	A reaction: [This idea is wonderfully expressed by D.H.Lawrence in his poem 'Red Geranium and Godly Mignonette]. The idea becomes attractive when you ask whether God would need to do mathematics.