CHAPTER VIII

THE “I” PROBLEM AND GENIUS 163

Characterology and the belief in the “I” -- Awakening of the ego -- Jean Paul, Novalis, Schelling -- The awakening of the ego and the view of the world -- Self-consciousness and arrogance -- The view of the genius to be more highly valued than that of other men -- Final statements as to the idea of genius -- The personality of the genius as the perfectly-conscious microcosm -- The naturally-synthetic activity of genius -- Significant and symbolical -- Definition of the genius in relation to ordinary men -- Universality as freedom -- Morality or immorality of genius? -- Duties towards self and others -- What duty to another is -- Criticism of moral sympathy and social ethics -- Understanding of other men as the one requirement of morality and knowledge -- I and thou -- Individualism and universalism -- Morality only in monads -- The man of greatest genius as the most moral man -- Why man is ζωον πολιτικον -- Consciousness and morality -- The great criminal -- Genius as duty and submission -- Genius and crime -- Genius and insanity -- Man as his own creator