392 Kant: A BiographyGod.^38 Reinhold made a great deal of what we may hope for, but Kant
really thought: "Believe nothing, hope for nothing! Do your duty here, that's
how the reply should be expressed in the Kantian language. "^39
Abegg's report also gives some insight into the subjects of conversation
at Kant's dinner table. There was very little about philosophy in general, not
very much about the Kantian publications then in progress (Anthropology
and The Dispute of the Faculties). There was some conversation about
science (e.g., mineralogy and physiognomy), and more about persons in
Königsberg and elsewhere (including Hamann, Herz, Hippel, Reuss,
Schmalz, Starck, and Fichte). The last was said to have fathered an ille¬
gitimate child in Königsberg. There was much talk of daily life (drinking
tea, smoking the pipe, taking snuff, wine, and coal), but most of the con¬
versation was about politics.^40 Kant found most politically current ideas
and contemporary political events interesting; and he had definite ideas
about all of them. France, Russia, and England were critically discussed.
The civil status of the Jews and the relations between the estates interested
him as much as whether a king was needed. Schulz, Kant's expositor, took
a more radical position on the last question than Kant himself, but Kant
was most sympathetic toward the Revolution in France. Jensch remarked,
for instance, " 'We see ... the innumerable consequences of the crusades,
of the reformation, etc., and what are they compared with what we see now?
What kinds of consequences will these events have?' Kant answered: 'Great,
infinitely great and beneficial.'"^41
When Abegg delivered his greetings from Herz, Kant said: "Oh, this is
a well-meaning man, who sends his regards at every occasion," and he was
"very" glad that Herz was well. "This is why I like at times visits of some¬
one from outside of Königsberg because he can tell me such things first¬
hand."^42 Brahl confided at that occasion that Kant "loved the French under¬
taking with his entire soul," that he did not "believe in God, even though
he postulated him," and was not afraid of death.^43 "The name of the
preacher who ate with me at Kant's is Sommer and he is especially well
versed in chemistry. — When tea was mentioned, Kant said that he drank
two cups a day. Sommer asked: 'and do you still smoke a pipe of tobacco?'
Kant answered: Yes, that is one of my happiest times. Then I am not yet
strained, and I try gradually to collect myself, and in the end it becomes
clear what and how I will spend the day." What did he have to say about his
reading of other philosophers, like Seile? "It's just as it was with Hamann
when he was reading Starck's writings on freemasonry, they make my belly
rumble! — Starck wanted nothing less than to become the head of all free-