Oh wow, that's a stunning story. (In both good and bad ways.)
Moses at first didn't want to do it. He said: "It pains me that I should have to ask for the right of my existence, which should be given to every human being living as a decent citizen. If the state sees cause to tolerate people of my nation only in very limited numbers, why should I be privileged among my brethren to demand an exception?" However, Moses Mendelsohn's friends pointed out to him that he was the head of a family who had to take this step for their sake, as they depended on him. He finally was persuaded.
The most depressing aspect? The only one aware that the law itself is wrong (i.e. that the crux isn't that exceptions for great thinkers should be made) is Moses Mendelsohn. :(
Yeah. :( I gotta say I'm super impressed by Mendelssohn, though!
Like felis, I also appreciate the portrait of D'Argens, who does as you say seem super likeable <3
Okay, question that may hinge on translation:
Un philosophe mauvais catholique supplie un philosophe mauvais protestant, de donner le privilege a un philosophe mauvais juif.
I get the philosophe mauvais catholique and the philosophe mauvais protestant (also, I assume that "mauvais" modifies "catholique" rather than "philosophe"?), but is he just being clever/ironic/parallel by referring to Mendelssohn as un philosophe mauvais juif? I didn't get the impression that Mendelssohn was particularly non-devout, but maybe D'Argens is just making a joke there about his and Fritz's lack of piety, and just assumed Mendelssohn was the same?
Re: Moses Mendelsohn (aka Nicolai, Volume I, b)
Moses at first didn't want to do it. He said: "It pains me that I should have to ask for the right of my existence, which should be given to every human being living as a decent citizen. If the state sees cause to tolerate people of my nation only in very limited numbers, why should I be privileged among my brethren to demand an exception?"
However, Moses Mendelsohn's friends pointed out to him that he was the head of a family who had to take this step for their sake, as they depended on him. He finally was persuaded.
The most depressing aspect? The only one aware that the law itself is wrong (i.e. that the crux isn't that exceptions for great thinkers should be made) is Moses Mendelsohn. :(
Yeah. :( I gotta say I'm super impressed by Mendelssohn, though!
Like
Okay, question that may hinge on translation:
Un philosophe mauvais catholique supplie un philosophe mauvais protestant, de donner le privilege a un philosophe mauvais juif.
I get the philosophe mauvais catholique and the philosophe mauvais protestant (also, I assume that "mauvais" modifies "catholique" rather than "philosophe"?), but is he just being clever/ironic/parallel by referring to Mendelssohn as un philosophe mauvais juif? I didn't get the impression that Mendelssohn was particularly non-devout, but maybe D'Argens is just making a joke there about his and Fritz's lack of piety, and just assumed Mendelssohn was the same?