Menneskets grænser

Abstract

The Limits of Man

By N. F. S. Grundtvig

The Limits of Man is a previously unpublished manuscript by Grundtvig written in German and here published in the original language together with a Danish translation by William Michelsen. It is undated, but must belong to the period 1810-20, probably 1816- 18. The starting-point is Goethe’s poem of the same title, which Grundtvig had copied into his journal at Egelykke from 1805-07; but the basis for this critique of Schelling is St John’s Gospel. The manuscript differs from Grundtvig’s others in its many corrections, most of them linguistic. It is regrettable that Grundtvig did not publicly avail himself of the German philosophical language, on grounds of principle which he explains in the periodical Danevirke (1816- 19). The manuscript is in the Grundtvig Archives at the Royal Library in Copenhagen (fasc. 168.3, 22 pages).