Human Being Is the Key to the
Mystery of Knowledge and of Existence
Nicolas Berdyaev
Nicolas Berdyaev
Front cover of the book, 1960 edition, and a photo of
Nicolas Berdyaev
Chapter
One
The
Problem of Ethical Knowledge
I do not
intend to begin, in accordance with the German tradition, with an
epistemological justification. I want to begin with an epistemological
accusation, or, rather, with an accusation against epistemology.
Epistemology
is an expression of doubt in the power and the validity of philosophical
knowledge. It implies a division which undermines the possibility of knowledge.
Thinkers who devote themselves to epistemology seldom arrive at ontology. The
path they follow is not one which leads to reality.
The
most creative modern philosophers, such as Bergson, M. Scheler and Heidegger,
are little concerned with epistemology. Man has lost the power of knowing real
being, has lost access to reality and been reduced to studying knowledge. And
so in his pursuit of knowledge he is faced throughout with knowledge and not with
being. But one cannot arrive at being - one can only start with it.
(...)
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Read in
our associated websites the article “Berdyaev
and the Search for Truth”.
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In September 2016, after a careful analysis of the state of the
esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to form the Independent Lodge of Theosophists,
whose priorities include the building of a better future in the different dimensions
of life.
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