Human, All Too Human, Part 9 summary
Part 9 of 152 · 2 min to read the part
In 9, the speaker concedes that a metaphysical world may exist but argues that human perception cannot establish its nature or importance. The argument separates bare possibility from religious and emotional commitments, concluding that even certain knowledge of such a world would have very little practical consequence.
What happens
- The speaker allows the possibility of a metaphysical world while stressing that humans perceive everything through their own minds.
- He traces the appeal of metaphysical assumptions to passion, error, and self-deception rather than sound knowledge.
- Exposing these foundations discredits existing religions and metaphysics without disproving the possibility of another world.
- That possibility cannot justify making happiness, salvation, or life depend upon it.
- Even if this world's existence were certain, knowledge of it would matter less than water chemistry to a storm-tossed sailor.
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What does the speaker concede about a metaphysical world?
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