Fichte's philosophy Johann Gottlieb Fichte

1 fichte s philosophy

1.1 central theory
1.2 other works
1.3 nationalism
1.4 women

fichte s philosophy

in mimicking kant s difficult style, critics argued fichte produced works barely intelligible. made no hesitation in pluming himself on great skill in shadowy , obscure, remarking pupils, there 1 man in world understand writings; , @ loss seize upon real meaning. on other hand, fichte himself acknowledged difficulty of writings, argued works clear , transparent made effort think without preconceptions , prejudices.

fichte did not endorse kant s argument existence of noumena, of things in , supra-sensible reality beyond categories of direct human perception. fichte saw rigorous , systematic separation of things in (noumena) , things appear (phenomena) invitation skepticism. rather invite such skepticism, fichte made radical suggestion should throw out notion of noumenal world , instead accept fact consciousness not have grounding in so-called real world . in fact, fichte achieved fame originating argument consciousness not grounded in outside of itself. phenomenal world such, arises self-consciousness; activity of ego; , moral awareness. student (and critic), arthur schopenhauer, wrote:

fichte who, because thing-in-itself had been discredited, @ once prepared system without thing-in-itself. consequently, rejected assumption of not through , through merely our representation, , therefore let knowing subject in or @ rate produce own resources. purpose, @ once did away essential , meritorious part of kantian doctrine, distinction between priori , posteriori , between phenomenon , thing-in-itself. declared priori, naturally without evidence such monstrous assertion; instead of these, gave sophisms , crazy sham demonstrations absurdity concealed under mask of profundity , of incomprehensibility ostensibly arising therefrom. moreover, appealed boldly , openly intellectual intuition, is, inspiration.

søren kierkegaard student of writings of fichte:

our whole age imbued formal striving. led disregard congeniality , emphasize symmetrical beauty, prefer conventional rather sincere social relations. whole striving denoted — use words of author — fichte s , other philosophers attempts construct systems sharpness of mind , robespierre s attempt of guillotine; meets in flowing butterfly verses of our poets , in auber s music, , finally, produces many revolutions in political world. agree whole effort cling form, insofar continues medium through have idea, should not forgotten idea should determine form, not form determines idea. should keep in mind life not abstract extremely individual. should not forget that, example, poetic genius position of immediacy, form nothing coming existence of idea in world, , task of reflection investigate whether or not idea has gotten corresponding form. form not basis of life, life basis of form. imagine man long infatuated greek mode of life had acquired means arrange building in greek style , grecian household establishment — whether or not satisfied highly problematical, or prefer form because had not sufficiently tested himself , system in lived. leap backward wrong (something age, on whole, inclined acknowledge), leap forward wrong — both of them because natural development not proceed leaps, , life s earnestness ironize on every such experiment, if succeeds momentarily.

central theory

in work foundations of natural right (1797), fichte argued self-consciousness social phenomenon — important step , perhaps first clear step taken in direction modern philosophy. necessary condition of every subject s self-awareness, fichte, existence of other rational subjects. these others call or summon (fordern auf) subject or self out of unconsciousness , awareness of free individual.

fichte s account proceeds general principle must set individual in order set @ all, , in order set individual must recognize calling or summons (aufforderung) other free individual(s) — called, moreover, limit own freedom out of respect freedom of other. same condition applied , applies, of course, other(s) in development. hence, mutual recognition (gegenseitig anerkennen) of rational individuals turns out condition necessary individual in general. argument intersubjectivity central conception of selfhood developed in foundations of science of knowledge (grundlage der gesamten wissenschaftslehre, 1794/1795). in fichte s view consciousness of self depends upon resistance or check understood not part of self yet not ascribable particular sensory perception. in later 1796–1799 lectures (his nova methodo), fichte incorporated revised presentation of foundations of system, summons takes place alongside original feeling, takes place of earlier anstoss (see below) both limit upon absolute freedom of , condition positing of same.

the (das ich) sets situation (it posits itself). set (setzen) not mean create objects of consciousness. principle in question states essence of lies in assertion of 1 s own self-identity, i.e., consciousness presupposes self-consciousness. such immediate self-identity, however, cannot understood psychological fact, nor act or accident of existing substance or being. action of i, 1 identical existence of same i. in fichte s technical terminology, original unity of self-consciousness understood both action , product of same i, fact and/or act (thathandlung; modern german: tathandlung), unity presupposed , contained within every fact , every act of empirical consciousness, although never appears such therein.

the must posit (setzen) in order @ all; can posit insofar posits (sets up) limited. moreover, cannot posit own limitations, in sense of producing or creating these limits. finite cannot ground of own passivity. instead, fichte, if posit off @ all, must discover limited, discovery fichte characterizes impulse, repulse, or resistance (anstoss; modern german: anstoß) free practical activity of i. such original limitation of is, however, limit insofar posits out limit. this, according fichte s analysis, positing own limitation, first, feeling, sensation, intuition of thing, , summons of person. anstoss provides essential impetus first posits in motion entire complex train of activities result in our conscious experience both of ourselves , others empirical individuals , of world around us.

though anstoss plays similar role thing in in kantian philosophy, unlike kant, fichte s anstoss not foreign i. instead, denotes s original encounter own finitude. rather claim not-i cause or ground of anstoss, fichte argues non-i set precisely in order explain anstoss, is, in order become conscious of anstoss.

though wissenschaftslehre demonstrates such anstoss must occur if self-consciousness come about, quite unable deduce or explain actual occurrence of such anstoss — except condition possibility of consciousness. accordingly, there strict limits can expected priori deduction of experience, , limitation, fichte, equally applies kant s transcendental philosophy.

according fichte, transcendental philosophy can explain world must have space, time, , causality, can never explain why objects have particular sensible properties happen have or why determinate individual rather another. has discover @ same time discovers own freedom, , indeed, condition latter.

dieter henrich (1966) proposed fichte able move beyond reflective theory of consciousness . according fichte self must have prior acquaintance itself, independent of act of reflection ( no object comes consciousness except under condition aware of myself, conscious subject [jedes object kommt zum bewusstseyn lediglich unter der bedingung, dass ich auch meiner selbst, des bewusstseyenden subjects mir bewusst sey] . idea henrich called fichte s original insight.

other works

fichte developed theory of state based on idea of self-sufficiency. in mind, state should control international relations, value of money, , remain autarky. because of necessity have relations other rational beings in order achieve consciousness, fichte writes there must relation of right , in there mutual recognition of rationality both parties.

nationalism

fichte s philosophical , humanitarian virtues fueled national efforts, nationalism proved mode saw fit carry out ideals. fichte man of action , believed duty actively create better world humanity. in 1790 fichte disclosed frame of mind might lead life of reformer, , wrote: wish not merely think; want act ... have 1 passion, 1 need, 1 complete feeling of myself, is, work humanity. more happier feel. fichte saw european society corrupted, 1 encouraged impulses based on purely self-interested motives , restricted individuals freedom. fichte remarked: believe heart in freedom of man , perceive belief duty, virtue, , ethics @ possible ... is, furthermore, clear me results extremely harmful society proceed acceptance of principle of determinism , great moral depravity of so-called better classes flows source. fichte s philosophical , humanitarian aims cure europe of determinism, , sought platform express ideals might received , administered. important note impacts french revolution had on fichte, further sustained objections against absolutism , faith in freedom. fichte explained approval of revolutionary france stating: more if french not acquire dominance , make changes in germany ... in few years no 1 in germany have practiced freedom of thought have haven. more certain, therefore, if find corner somewhere, shall driven out within 2 years @ most.

in 1803 fichte saw humanity in third principal epoch of world history , , described era 1 with, mere sensuous self-interest impulse of vital stirrings , motions. fichte contemporary cosmopolitan in nineteenth-century germany; thoughts , concerns troubles of humanity s current place in history. believed other cosmopolitans shared virtues, , saw new french state ally embodied philosophical values. however, 1804 fichte s views toward france took drastic turn witnessing napoleon s armies advance through europe, occupy german territories, strip them of raw materials , subjugate them foreign rule. when france committed fichte considered atrocity before humanity, abstinence of embracing own ideals, contested germany responsible carry french revolution virtues future. furthermore, nationalism not aroused prussia military defeat , humiliation, these had not yet occurred, resulted devotion own humanitarian philosophy. through disappointment in french turned german nation instrument of fulfilling it. 1806 cosmopolitan ideals combined german patriotic spirit, , german nationalists born. fichte unveiled german nationalism when wrote, cosmopolitanism purpose of humanity achieved. patriotism purpose fulfilled in nation ourselves belong , results spread entire humanity ... cosmopolitanism must become patriotism.

the characteristics of fichte’s german nationalism revealed in addresses german nation, , nationalism centered on interpretation of present age , , germany s opportunity therein. on december 18, 1807 @ university of berlin fichte’s presented age explication, us, more other age in history of world, time taking great strides. within 3 years have passed since interpretation of current epoch, has @ point run course , come end. fichte believed german people fulfill ultimate goals humanity creating , leading new age in history. fichte insisted there such age , proclaimed german people, affirm there such world, , purpose of these addresses prove existence , true properties, bring before eyes vivid picture of world, , indicate means of creating it.

fichte made important contributions political nationalism in germany. in addresses german nation (1808), series of speeches delivered in berlin under french occupation, urged german peoples have character , german — entailed in idea of germanness antisemitism, since argued making jews free german citizens hurt german nation. fichte answered call of freiherr vom stein, attempted develop patriotism necessary resist french among educated , cultural elites of kingdom. fichte located germanness in supposed continuity of german language, , based on tacitus, had hailed german virtues in germania , celebrated heroism of arminius in annals.

in earlier work 1793 dealing ideals , politics of french revolution, contributions correction of public s judgment concerning french revolution (beiträge zur berichtigung der urteile des publikums über die französische revolution\), called jews state within state undermine german nation. in regard jews getting civil rights , wrote possible if 1 managed cut off heads in 1 night, , set new ones on shoulders, should contain not single jewish idea .

women

fichte argued active citizenship, civic freedom , property rights should withheld women, calling subject utterly authority of fathers , husbands.