Frederick the Great#
Summary#
Frederick the Great represents the emergence of a new, harder form of skepticism in Germany - a “skepticism of daring manliness” closely related to the genius for war and conquest. Despite his father’s fears that young Frederick had lapsed into French frivolity and atheism, he developed a dangerous skepticism that despises yet grasps, undermines yet takes possession, giving the spirit dangerous liberty while keeping strict guard over the heart. This German form of skepticism, risen to the highest spirituality, kept Europe under the dominion of the German spirit through its critical and historical distrust.