Fichte

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kul Classics for n0fis f KDITKD BY WILLIAM KNIGHT, LL. D. PROFUSSOH OF MORAL PUILOSOPHY, UNIVEliyiTY OF ST ANDHIiWS F I C H T E The Volumes published of this Series contain 1. DESCARTES, ... By Professor MAHAFFY, Dublin. 2. BUTLER, ... By the Rev. W. LUCAS COLLINS, M. A. 3. BERKELEY, . By Professor CAMPBELL FRASER, Edinburgh. 4. PICHTE, By Professor ADAMSON, Owens College, Manchester. 5. KANT, .... By Professor WALLACE, Oxford. 6. HAMILTON, ... By Professor VEITCH, Glasgow. 7. HEGEL, . - By Professor EDWARD CAIBD, Glasgow. 8. LEIBNIZ, By JOHN THEODORE MERZ. 9. VICO, .... By Professor FLINT, Edinburgh. 10. HOBBES, . . By Professor CROOM ROBERTSON, London. 11. HUME, . . . By Professor KNIGHT, St Andrews. 12. SPINOZA, By Principal CAIRO, Glasgow. 13. BACON. PART I., . . By Professor NICHOL, Glasgow. 14. BACON. PART II., . . By Professor NICHOL, Glasgow. 15. LOCKE, . . By Professor CAMPBELL FRASBR, Edinburgh. F I C H T E ROBERT ADAJISON, M. A. PROFESSOR OF LOGIC IN THE OWENS COLLEGE, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY, MANCHESTER CHEAP KD1TION WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND-SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON SAMMELS TAYLOR 259 OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W. AND AT 7 NEW BROAD STREET AND 130 FLEET STREET MCMI PREFATORY NOTE. THE account of Fichtes system in the latter part of this volume has no pretensions to be regarded as more than an introduction to his philosophy. When it is re membered that Fichtes works appear in eleven substan tial volumes, and that many of them are elaborate and detailed expositions of special branches of philosophy in general, it will be evident that a summary or compressed statement would have but small value and that a short sketch must of necessity be introductory in character, I have to thank DrWilliam Smith for the kind per mission to use his translations of certain of Fichtes works. The passage quoted from the c Eeden, J is taken, with one or two verbal alterations, from his Memoir of Fichte. The delay in the appearance of this volume of the series of Philosophical Classics 1 is due to causes for which I am alone responsible. R ADAMSON. THE OWENS COLLEGE, June 1881. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY, .... 1 II. YOUTH AND EARLY STRUGGLES, . . 8 III. THE JENA PROFESSORSHIP, . . 41 IV. BERLIN AND THE WAR OF LIBERATION, . 65 1. FRIENDS AND LITERARY ACTIVITY AT BERLIN 1799-1806. 2. FALL AND REGENERATION OF PRUSSIA THE BERLIN UNIVERSITY. 3. WAR OF LIBERATION I DEATH OF FICHTE. VI. W1SSENSOHAFTSLEHRE IN ITS EARLIER 105 FORM, . . . .125 1. DOGMATISM AND IDEALISM. 2. HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS SPINOZA AND KANT. 3. FIRST PRINCIPLES. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM. VII. LATER FORM OF THE WISSENSOHAFTSLEHRE, 189 VIII. CONCLUDING REMARKS, . . .214 F I C H T E. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. IT happens but rarely that the life of a philosopher has been so closely connected with the historical develop ment of his people, that his name should be remembered rather on account of his practical activity than for his speculative researches. Yet if one does not misinterpret the evidence supplied in ample quantity by the numerous speeches, addresses, 1 essays, memorials, and other documents which marked the celebration of the centenary of Fichte in 1862, circumstances in his case must have combined to bring about this result Many occasional references were made by various speakers and writers to the philosophy of Fichte, and much was said of the speculative depth and richness of his writings but all suchremarks were manifestly external and by the way. The subtle metaphysician of the Wissenschafts lehre had evidently, in the estimation of his admirers, been overshadowed by the patriotic orator of the Ad r. iv. A 2 Fichte. dresses to the German Nation. There exists not now, there never did exist to any extent, a school of follow ers of Fichte it may well be doubted if there are at present half-a-dozen students of his works...