“Our existence is therefore neither more nor less than a kind of birthday
diversion for Hilde Mailer Knag. We have all been invented as a framework for
the major’s philosophical education of his daughter. This means, for example,
that the white Mercedes at the gate is not worth a cent. It’s just a bagatelle.
It’s worth no more than the white Mercedes that drives around and around
inside the head of a poor UN major, who has just this minute sat down in the
shade of a palm tree to avoid getting sunstroke. The days are hot in Lebanon,
my friends.”
“Garbage!” exclaimed the financial adviser. “This is absolutely pure
nonsense.”
“You are welcome to your opinion,” Alberto continued unabashed, “but
the truth is that it is this garden party which is absolutely pure nonsense. The
only dose of reason in the whole party is this speech.”
At that, the financial adviser got up and said:
“Here we are, trying our best to run a business, and to make sure we
have insurance coverage against every kind of risk. Then along comes this
know-it-all who tries to destroy it all with his ‘philosophical’ allegations.”
Alberto nodded in agreement.
“There is indeed no insurance to cover this kind of philosophical insight.
We are talking of something worse than a natural catastrophe, sir. But as you
are probably aware, insurance doesn’t cover those either.”
“This is not a natural catastrophe.”
“No, it is an existential catastrophe. For example, just take a look under
the currant bushes and you will see what I mean. You cannot insure yourself
against the collapse of your whole life. Neither can you insure yourself against
the sun going out.”
“Do we have to put up with this?” asked Joanna’s father, looking at his
wife.
She shook her head, and so did Sophie’s mother.
“What a shame,” she said, “and after we had spared no expense.”
The younger guests continued to look at Alberto. “We want to hear
more,” said a curly-haired boy with glasses.
“Thank you, but there is not much more to say. When you have realized
that you are a dream image in another person’s sleepy consciousness, then,
in my opinion, it is wisest to be silent. But I can finish by recommending that
you take a short course in the history of philosophy. It is important to be
critical of the older generation’s values. If I have tried to teach Sophie
anything, it is precisely that, to think critically. Hegel called it thinking
negatively.”
The financial adviser was still standing, drumming his fingers on the
table.
“This agitator is attempting to break down all the sound values which the
school and the church and we ourselves are trying to instill in the younger
generation. It is they who have the future before them and who one day will
inherit everything we have built up. If this man is not immediately removed
from this gathering I intend to call our lawyer. He will know how to deal with
this situation.”
“It makes little difference whether you deal with this situation or not,
since you are nothing but a shadow. Anyway, Sophie and I are about to leave
the party, since for us the philosophy course has not been purely theoretical.