哲学的人間学と特殊教育

衝動と精神

抄録

Man can by vital self-denial, control his instincts and sublimate them into cultural activity. But the spirit by itself has no power. In order to obtain at least a minimum measure of strength the instinct suppression must be added. However, the spirit does not first come into existence by instinct suppression. The spirit has autonomy and roots of its own.
The spirit while dealing with the organism can evoke various forms of instinctive drives in order to accomplish things which the spirit desires. Instinct and spirit complement one another, and the end of human life is that, by vital self-denial, life may become spiritualized and spirit become vitalized.
This goal can be accomplished only by practicing vital self-denial through occupation with ideals and value contents. Hence straight living and healthy development of life can be realized only when instincts are not forcibly, but naturally, controled. This must be done not by struggling directly against antivalue instinctive behaviour but by directing one's efforts towards a value-orientated goal. Hence the anthropological meaning of educational content consists among others in presenting to the child and the pupil value-orientated goals. If the will is applied to directly denying the instincts, the will is always going to accomplish the opposite of what it desires.