Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- Further reading
- Note on texts and translations
- Introduction
- Philosophical and theological writings
- 1 The Christianity of reason (c. 1753)
- 2 On the reality of things outside God (1763)
- 3 Spinoza only put Leibniz on the track of [his theory of] pre-established harmony (1763)
- 4 On the origin of revealed religion (1763 or 1764)
- 5 Leibniz on eternal punishment (1773)
- 6 [Editorial commentary on the ‘Fragments’ of Reimarus, 1777]
- 7 On the proof of the spirit and of power (1777)
- 8 The Testament of St John (1777)
- 9 A rejoinder (1778)
- 10 A parable (1778)
- 11 Axioms (1778)
- 12 New hypothesis on the evangelists as merely human historians (1778)
- 13 Necessary answer to a very unnecessary question of Herr Hauptpastor Goeze of Hamburg (1778)
- 14 The religion of Christ (1780)
- 15 That more than five senses are possible for human beings (c. 1780)
- 16 Ernst and Falk: dialogues for Freemasons (1778–80)
- 17 The education of the human race (1777–80)
- 18 [Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Recollections of conversations with Lessing in July and August 1780 (1785)]
- Index
- Cambridge texts in the history of philosophy
9 - A rejoinder (1778)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- Further reading
- Note on texts and translations
- Introduction
- Philosophical and theological writings
- 1 The Christianity of reason (c. 1753)
- 2 On the reality of things outside God (1763)
- 3 Spinoza only put Leibniz on the track of [his theory of] pre-established harmony (1763)
- 4 On the origin of revealed religion (1763 or 1764)
- 5 Leibniz on eternal punishment (1773)
- 6 [Editorial commentary on the ‘Fragments’ of Reimarus, 1777]
- 7 On the proof of the spirit and of power (1777)
- 8 The Testament of St John (1777)
- 9 A rejoinder (1778)
- 10 A parable (1778)
- 11 Axioms (1778)
- 12 New hypothesis on the evangelists as merely human historians (1778)
- 13 Necessary answer to a very unnecessary question of Herr Hauptpastor Goeze of Hamburg (1778)
- 14 The religion of Christ (1780)
- 15 That more than five senses are possible for human beings (c. 1780)
- 16 Ernst and Falk: dialogues for Freemasons (1778–80)
- 17 The education of the human race (1777–80)
- 18 [Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Recollections of conversations with Lessing in July and August 1780 (1785)]
- Index
- Cambridge texts in the history of philosophy
Summary
Rather to establish the point at issue than to put anything forward through the discourse.
Dictys the Cretan, Diary of the Trojan WarBrunswick, 1778
I have all due respect for the pious man who felt obliged by his conscience to defend the story of the resurrection against the fragment of my anonymous author. We all act in accordance with our understanding and abilities; and it is always touching when even the weak and decrepit Nestor is ready to accept Hector's challenge if no younger and stronger Greek is willing to face up to him.
Nor do I presume to act as arbiter of this combat and to throw my staff between the contestants if one or other of them delivers an all too vicious or dishonourable thrust. The arbiter of combats was a member of the judiciary; and I judge no one, so that no one may pass judgement on me.
But I must not forget what I owe to myself. There is a risk that my intention will be misjudged and my proposed solutions misinterpreted. A brief word may avert this misfortune; and who will not allow me this word or pardon me for uttering it?
Lessing
Let us first give due consideration to the position which each of us occupies, so that we may have as fair a share as possible of light and weather. For it is not enough that we all fight with identical weapons.
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- Information
- Lessing: Philosophical and Theological Writings , pp. 95 - 109Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005