Abstract
The reconsideration of the meaning of knowledge and thinking as based on the failure of thinking as a claim for truth is being scrutinized in a narrow perspective of two texts, Menschliches, Allzumenschliches and Fröhliche Wissenschaft. An analysis of failure in relation to basis of knowledge leads to differentiation of positive and negative knowledge.
Negative knowledge does not have its proper purpose (i. e. knowledge), and is meaningful for its being actualised. Positive knowledge is a conceptual knowledge that gains its meaning through being orientative.
Thinking as being no longer product (knowledge) oriented but an inevitable part of living and moving in the world is being analysed in the second part of the article in the analysis of consciousness and knowledge in Fröhliche Wissenschaft. The analysis emphasizes the value of the un-thematized in thinking and knowing, particularly throught the image of consciousness as a mirror.
The knowledge is understood as a conceptual construct based on an individually lived (un-thematized) experience. The failure lies in the need to convert the unknown to known, and is based by fear.
The fear from unknown points to the unknown as an agent demarcating the problem, problem being essential for the knowledge to be retained.