Friedrich_Nietzsche - Untimely_Meditations_(Cambridge_Texts_in_the_History_of_Philosophy__1997)

Untimely Meditationsknowledge, the constant stimulation exercised by the new and rarein contrast to the old and tedious. Then there is a certain drive todialectical investigation, the huntsman's joy in following the sly fox'spath in the realm of thought, so that it is not really truth that issought but the seeking itself, and the main pleasure consists in thecunning tracking, encircling, and correct killing. Now add to this theimpulse to contradiction, the personality wanting to be aware ofitself and to make itself felt in opposition to all others; the strugglebecomes a pleasure and the goal is personal victory, the struggle fortruth being only a pretext. Then, the man of learning is to a greatextent also motivated to the discovery of certain 'truths', motivatedthat is by his subjection to certain ruling persons, castes, opinions,churches, governments: he feels it is to his advantage to bring 'truth'over to their side. The following qualities are also prominently displayedin the man of learning, less regularly than the previous onesyet frequently enough. Firstly, probity and a sense for simplicity,very worthy things provided they are something more than clumsinessand lack of practice in dissimulatien, for which, after all, a certainamount of wit is needed. Indeed, wherever wit and dexterity arestrikingly in evidence, one should be a little on one's guard andreserve one's judgment as to the uprightness of character of the personpossessing them. On the other hand, this probity is for the most partoflittle worth and seldom fruitful even in the cause of science, sinceit is wholly tied to convention and usually tell$ the truth only in simplethings or in adiaphoris; for in these cases laziness finds it easier to tellthe truth than to keep silent about it. And because everything newmakes it necessary to relearn, this probity will always, in case of need,revere the old opinion and reproach the innovator with a lack of sensusrecti. * It certainly resisted the teachings of Copernicus because in thiscase it had appearance and convention on its side. The hatred ofphilosophy not at all uncommon among men oflearning is above allhatred of the long chains of conclusions and the artificiality of theproofs. At bottom, indeed, every generation of men of learning hasan unconscious canon of permitted sagacity; whatever goes beyond itis called into question and all but employed to cast suspicion on theprobity of its propounder.Secondly, sharpsightedness fo r thingsclose up, combined with great myopia for distant things and forwhat is universal. His field of vision is usually very small and he hasto hold his eyes close to the object. If the man oflearning wants to go*sensus recti: sense of what is right170