236 Kant: A Biography"concerning a system, which I had in my head, but which / could only ac¬
complish during the period from 1770 to 1780 gradually found their way into
my lectures," where they were picked up by Hippel.^175 Kant's critical phi¬
losophy was thus first introduced to the German public not by Kant him¬
self, but by Hippel, who had published Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie,
nebst Beilagen A, B, C (Descriptions of Life in an Ascending Line, with
Additions A, B, C). This novel appeared in three volumes in 1778, 1779,
and 1781.
In these volumes Hippel used some passages from Kant's encyclopedia
and anthropology lectures almost verbatim, and was therefore (later) ac¬
cused of having plagiarized Kant. Kant defended Hippel in his "Declara¬
tion" against the charge of plagiarism, and he also confirmed that Hippel
had used notes from his lectures. Hippel's book also contained a fictional¬
ized account of Kant in the role of examiner, and many other allusions to
the Königsberg professor. Indeed, Kant played a large part in the work as
the "Grandfather professor" and "His Spectability."^176 Hippel allowed
himself some spoofs of Kant's character. In the examination scene, His
Spectability, "as the dean of the faculty is usually called," suggests that "it
is customary to examine foreigners either not at all or only very little."
Hippel knew of the accusations that Kant was too easy in his examinations.
His Spectability is happy because he had just become a grandfather the
night before. Kant's servant Lampe appears as the grandmother:Just as we were about to blind ourselves with a great deal of metaphysics (uns... ins
Auge zu sträuen), when, lo and behold, the nightcap (Hausmütze) of His Spectability
jerked open the door and looked through a small crack. But one could see that the old
woman still had a light in her eye. She directed a beam into the room. This reminder
was to make her loving husband realize that they had an appointment with their grand¬
son this evening. It was evident from the face of His Spectability that He knew what
was owed to a look through a small crack. It went over and over. -1 do not know whether
I will be able to imitate this over and over in writing.
The moral maxims, His Spectability started after this look through the small crack
(I do not know why?), show how we may become worthy of happiness, the pragmatic
ones show how we can obtain it.
This scene may have to do with the fact that Lampe had taken a wife (and
become a father) without informing Kant. It is known that Kant was un¬
happy about this.
Kant had said in his encyclopedia lectures: "As far as we are concerned,
we understand a joke, and we are not upset if the philosopher does not live
as he teaches." Hippel, who in his novel contrasted natural and artificial