Religion and Culture
First semester: 24 lectures.
I. Introduction and Preliminary Definitions.
1. The character and organisation of the lectures
a] The toil and labor of serious thought is demanded
in every academic work. This must be emphasized first
because of the universality of the title, promising perhaps po-
pular lectures about interesting subjects. Second, because of the
popularising tendency of our culture, against which the academic
position must be defended. – If water must be spread
over large stretches of land, a deep fountain is needed or an
ever streaming river. We are responsible for it. This is a
[2]
warning that thinking cannot avoid abstractions, and that
even the concrete example serves the abstract concepts. Complaints
about abstractions in thought are like complaints about colours
in painting.
b] An example of this {situati} character of thought is the
organisation of the {whole} lecture. We must anticipate some
concepts, although their {full meaning will appear later.} development is the task of the whole lecture. {After
discussing preliminary} The concepts of
{I intend to} are most abstract in the beginning. They shall
be filled with content without ceasing to be abstract. {The
first step to give them concrete content is an analysis of
the present situation with respect to our problem. This then
must be our second task. Out of it the basic question arises.
c] After this laying of the foundations, the lecture
must go into the special functions of man's cultural life.}