The Vocation of Man

The destiny of man ( first edition 1800) is a popular writing of the philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte, by the non-specialist scholars to self-knowledge should be taught that this will then enable them to mature to participate in public affairs.

Structure and background

In the 18th century it has been almost a fad to publish books under the title The destiny of man, which are aimed at the educated layman (eg, John J. Spalding, meditation on the destiny of man ). Fichte made ​​with this fad. His work is divided into three books with the titles of " doubt ", " knowledge" and "faith." The first and last book in the I - form held monologues, the second is a dialogue between the ego and the mind. This reminds the second book in the Soliloquia the church father Augustine, in which there is a dialogue between a self and of reason (ratio).

Background of the destiny of man is the so-called atheism (1799 ), has been accused in the spruce that he denied with his philosophy God. In the determination of the belief in God is defined as the goal of his philosophy ( authentic will of the ego = will of God ).

Content

Like René Descartes in his Meditations spruce found in knowledge ( cogitatio ) refuge from doubt. But He does not stop with this knowledge, because it as a natural being completely determiniere virtue (see the dogmatism of Spinoza ) and only to satisfy the mind of the people, while the demand of the heart for freedom and responsibility remain unfulfilled. This freedom can be the individuals only through self-knowledge acquire ( cf. Kant Sapere aude, the Socratic philosophy). True knowledge can only be found in the ego itself, for a "thing outside of me " does not exist. Everything that surrounds me is merely the product of my imagination. The nature has no purpose in itself, but she was just there for me, That I may gelange by them to my true destiny.