Foundation of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre and Related Writings, 1794-95

604 Pages·2021·4.008 MB·English

by  J. G. Fichte, Daniel Breazeale (editor)

J. G. Fichte: Foundation of the Entire
Wissenschaftslehre and Related Writings
(1794–95)

J. G. Fichte: Foundation
of the Entire
Wissenschaftslehre
and Related Writings
(1794–95)
Edited and Translated by
DANIEL BREAZEALE
1
1
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To Viv,
Summoner and Sustainer

Table of Contents
Preface xi
Editor’s Introduction 1
Genesis and First Presentation of the Wissenschaftslehre (1793–95) 1
Contents and Outlines of Foundation of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre
and Outline of What is Distinctive of the Wissenschaftslehre with
Regard to the Theoretical Power 48
Notes on the Translation 98
German-English Glossary 105
English-German Glossary 114
Bibliography and Guide to Further Study 127
Key to Abbreviations and Annotation 144
TEXTS
I. CONCERNING THE CONCEPT OF THE
WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE, OR OF SO-CALLED
“PHILOSOPHY”
Preface to the First Edition (1794) 152
Preface to the Second Edition (1798) 154
First Part: Concerning the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre as Such 157
§ 1. Hypothetically Proposed Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre 157
§ 2. Development of the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre 162
Second Part: Explication of the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre 170
§ 3. 170
§ 4. To What Extent Can the Wissenschaftslehre Be Sure
That It Has Exhausted Human Knowledge as Such? 171
§ 5. What Is the Boundary Separating the Universal Wissenschaftslehre
from the Particular Sciences Based Upon It? 175
§ 6. How Is the Universal Wissenschaftslehre Related to Logic
in Particular? 178
§ 7. How Is the Wissenschaftslehre Related to Its Object? 181
Third Part: Hypothetical Division of the Wissenschaftslehre 189
II. FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE
WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE
Preface to the First Edition (1795) 196
Forward to the Second Edition (1802) 199
viii Table of Contents
Part One: Foundational Principles of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre 200
§ 1. First, Purely and Simply Unconditioned Foundational Principle 200
§ 2. Second Foundational Principle, Conditioned with Respect
to its Content 207
§ 3. Third Foundational Principle, Conditioned with Respect to its Form 210
Part Two: Foundation of Theoretical Knowledge 225
§ 4. First Theorem 225
A. Determination of the Synthetic Proposition to be Analyzed 226
B. General Nature of the Synthesis of Terms Posited in
Opposition to Each Other as Such in the Indicated Proposition 228
C. Synthesis by Means of Reciprocal Determination of the
Contradictions Implicit in the First of the Two Propositions
Posited in Opposition to Each Other 230
D. Synthesis by Means of Reciprocal Determination of the Opposing
Propositions Contained in the Second of the Two Propositions
Posited in Opposition to Each Other 235
E. Synthetic Unification of the Oppositions Occurring between
the Two Indicated Types of Reciprocal Determination 240
Deduction of Representation 306
Part Three: Foundation of the Science of the Practical 320
§ 5. Second Theorem 320
§ 6. Third Theorem: In the Striving of the I There Is Posited at the Same
Time an Opposed Striving of the Not-I, which Counterbalances
that of the I 346
§ 7. Fourth Theorem: The Striving of the I, the Opposed Striving of
the Not-I, and the Equilibrium between Them Must Be Posited 347
§ 8. Fifth Theorem: Feeling Must Itself Be Posited and Determined 350
§ 9. Sixth Theorem: Feeling Must Be Further Determined and Delineated 354
§ 10. Seventh Theorem: Drive Itself Must Be Posited and Determined 357
§ 11. Eighth Theorem: Feelings Themselves Must Be Capable of Being
Posited in Opposition to Each Other 374
III. OUTLINE OF WHAT IS DISTINCTIVE OF THE
WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE WITH REGARD
TO THE THEORETICAL POWER
§ 1. The Concept of the Particular in the Theoretical Wissenschaftslehre 382
§2. First Theorem: The Indicated Factum Is Posited through
Sensation, or, Deduction of Sensation 384
§3. Second Theorem: The Sensing Subject Is Posited through
Intuition, or, Deduction of Intuition 388
§ 4. The Intuition Is Determined in Time; What Is Intuited Is
Determined in Space 423
Concluding Remark 436
Table of Contents ix
Appendix: “The Zurich Wissenschaftslehre” 437
J. K. Lavater’s Transcription of the First Five Lectures 439
Jens Baggesen’s Notes on the Zurich Wissenschaftslehre 456
Concluding Lecture: Concerning Human Dignity (privately printed) 458
Endnotes 461
Index 569