Portrait: Michael Lambek

In an article as relevant now when it was written, Aleida Assmann (1996: 94) asks: “How in a world of divided creeds is one to find out which the true belief?” She draws from Gotthold Lessing's character Nathan Wise say (ibid.: 95): There are two possible solutions problem, that fundamentalist and sage. The overcomes problem multiplicity by return One. Truth can be restored only if rivals eliminated false pretenders unmasked. order founded on tyranny solution sage metaphysics absence … Under these conditions, cannot overcome. It has endured, tolerated. permanent reminder fact absolute truth not for this we know it. To put paradoxical way: discovery enlightenment all groping dark.