Essay Questions

Explain the fallacy which Wizenmann employs when criticizing Mendelssohn’s work.

Ad Hominem Fallacy: “I do not ascribe to either of the two the intention of bringing such destructive way of thinking into currency; rather I prefer to regard the latter’s (Wizemann) undertaking as an Argumentum ad hominem, which one is justified in using merely as a defensive weapon, so as to use one’s opponent’s vulnerabilities to his disadvantage.”Wizemann exploits Mendelssohn’s personal weakness to dent the credibility of Mendelssohn’s philosophy on reasoning. The denunciation is largely personal ;through the fallacy Wizemann endeavours to prove that his ideology is superior to Mendelssohn’s.

Expound the predominant binary in part two.

Good versus Evil: the subheading for part two frameworks the binary: “Concerning the battle of the good against the evil principle for dominion over the human being.” The subheading demonstrates that part two is grounded on the binary of goodness versus depravity. Besides, Kant explains, “To become a morally good human being it is not enough simply to let the germ of the good which lies in our species develop unhindered; there is in us an active and opposing cause of evil which is also to be combatted.” Kant implies the wickedness and decency are not utterly mutually exclusive. Nevertheless, goodness is a feasible tool for combating wickedness.