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The Wissenschaftslehre or "doctrine of science" was the great achievement of the German idealist philosopher J. G. Fichte. Daniel Breazeale presents accessible new translations of three works in which Fichte developed this philosophical system. The centerpiece of this volume is a new English translation of Fichte's only full-scale presentation of the principles of his philosophy, the Foundation of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre (1794/95). Accompanying this are new translations of the work in which Fichte first publicly introduced his new system, Concerning the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre (1794) and the Outline of what is Distinctive of the Wissenschaftslehre with respect to the Theoretical Power (1795), which was intended as a companion to the Foundation. In addition Breazeale includes the transcripts of Fichte's unpublished "Zurich lectures" on his system (1794), translated here for the first time in English.
Breazeale supplements his translations with an extensive historical and systematic introduction, detailed outlines of the contents and structure of the Foundation and Outline, and copious scholarly annotation of the translated texts, helping to orient readers who may otherwise find themselves lost in the wilderness of Fichte's complex "derivations."
List of contents
- Editor's Introduction
- TEXTS
- Concerning the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre, or of so-called "Philosophy"
- Foundation of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre
- Outline of What is Distinctive of the Wissenschaftslehre with Regard to the Theoretical Power
- APPENDIX
About the author
Daniel Breazeale is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky.
Summary
The Wissenschaftslehre or "doctrine of science" was the great achievement of the German idealist philosopher J. G. Fichte. Daniel Breazeale presents new translations of three works in which Fichte developed this system, alongside a set of lectures previously unpublished in English. The texts are accompanied by an extensive introduction and notes.
Additional text
Breazeale accomplishes a real feat: his erudition serves a presentation of Fichte's philosophy that will be beneficial to every reader, neophyte and specialist alike.
Report
Breazeale accomplishes a real feat: his erudition serves a presentation of Fichte's philosophy that will be beneficial to every reader, neophyte and specialist alike. Isabelle Thomas-Fogiel, Journal of the History of Philosophy 61.2
