Lecture XLV (Nr. 0603)
Facs
Transcript
[598] let them work, not to OVERCOME existence--this can never happen, in a and space--but to balance the saving b against the c powers. And in order to do this, a type of d can occur, in groups and e, which can be called f pacifism, namely individuals or groups resigning themselves, or for their group, of the application of compulsion; not of power-- that would mean non-existence--but of compulsion. These symbolic pacifists--as I would say the Quakers are, in their basic principles, and the Church always must be, AS CHURCH, even if it doesn’t demand pacifism legalistically of the state; and individuals who, as conscientious objectors, point to the g unity of everything which is alive, but DO NOT MAKE A h out of it. Now this is a third form, and a form of which I only want that it wouldn't disappear from the surface of the earth, and not from the surface of this country which was on a wrong way, in the period in which LEGALISTIC pacifism was predominant, but which now should not go to the other extreme to a simple affirmation of military power, as it sometimes SEEMS to be, in i utterances of the leaders of this country. But there should always be the symbolic representatives of the j peace in some individuals and some acts in which they represent this reality. Now I think this makes it clear what one could say in the relationship of such a problem. And I would believe that this is true of many other problems too. This brings me to a last consideration in this whole lecture, which in some way is supposed to sum p [sic.] up this whole lecture [i.e. course of lectures]. I believe that in many of you the question is, consciously or