Ideas from 'works' by J.G. Hamann [1770], by Theme Structure
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11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs
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Belief is no more rational than is tasting and smelling
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Full Idea:
Belief happens as little in terms of reasons as tasting and smelling.
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From:
J.G. Hamann (works [1770], v2:74), quoted by Andrew Bowie - Introduction to German Philosophy
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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.
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28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature
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God is not a mathematician, but a poet
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Full Idea:
Hamann's fundamental doctrine was that God was not a geometer, not a mathematician, but a poet.
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From:
report of J.G. Hamann (works [1770]) by Isaiah Berlin - The Roots of Romanticism Ch.3
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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.
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