Tetens’s Writings on Method, Language, and Anthropology

313 Pages·2022·10.852 MB·

by  Curtis Sommerlatte (editor), Scott Stapleford (editor)

TETENS’S WRITINGS ON
METHOD, LANGUAGE, AND
ANTHROPOLOGY
Bloomsbury Studies in Modern German Philosophy
Series Editors:
Courtney D. Fugate, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Anne Pollok, University of South Carolina, USA
Editorial Board:
Desmond Hogan (Princeton University, USA)
Ursula Goldenbaum (Emory University, USA)
Robert Clewis (Gwynedd Mercy University, USA)
Paul Guyer (Brown University, USA)
Brandon Look (University of Kentucky, USA)
Eric Watkins (University of California, San Diego, USA)
Corey W. Dyck (University of Western Ontario, Canada)
Stefanie Buchenau (University of Paris, France)
Paola Rumore (University of Turin, Italy)
Heiner Klemme (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany)
Central and previously overlooked ideas and thinkers from the German Enlightenment
Era are showcased in this series. Expanding research into areas that have been
neglected, particularly in English-language scholarship, it covers the work of lesser-
known authors, previously untranslated texts, and issues that have suffered an
undeserved life on the margins of current philosophical–historical discussion about
18th-century German thought.
By opening itself to a broad range of subjects and placing the role of women during
this period centre-stage, the series not only advances our understanding of the German
Enlightenment and its connection with the pan-European debates, but also contributes
to debates about the reception of Newtonian science and the impact of Leibnizian,
Kantian, and Wolffian philosophies.
Featuring edited collections and single-authored works, and overseen by an esteemed
Editorial Board, the goal is to enrich current debates in the history of philosophy and
to correct common misconceptions.
TETENS’S WRITINGS ON
METHOD, LANGUAGE, AND
ANTHROPOLOGY
Edited and Translated by
Courtney D. Fugate, Curtis Sommerlatte,
and Scott Stapleford
BLOOMSBURY ACADEMIC
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First published in Great Britain 2022
Copyright © Courtney D. Fugate, Curtis Sommerlatte, and Scott Stapleford, 2022
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vi
AbbreviAtions vii
Part I Introduction to the Translation
Courtney D. Fugate, in collaboration with Curtis Sommerlatte
Introduction 3
Part II The Translations
1 Thoughts on the Influence of the Climate on the Manner of Human
Thought (1759) 39
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
2 Thoughts on Some Reasons Why There Are So Few Settled Truths in
Metaphysics (1760) 47
Translated by Scott Stapleford
3 Letter to … on the Question: Whether the Difference in the Cognitive
Abilities and Inclinations of Human Beings Has Its Ground in an Innate
Difference or in External Circumstances (1761) 83
Translated by Curtis Sommerlatte
4 On the Difference of Human Beings with Respect to Their Chief
Inclinations (1762–3) 93
Translated by Curtis Sommerlatte
5 On the Principles and Benefit of Etymology (1765) 109
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
6 On the Various Benefits of the Domains of Human Knowledge (1765) 131
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
7 On the Origin of the Desire for Honor (1766) 139
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
8 On the Origin of Languages and Writing (1772) 153
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
9 On the General Speculative Philosophy (1775) 195
Translated by Courtney D. Fugate
Part III Ancillary Materials
glossAries 245
bibliogrAphy 263
index 293
9781350081444_txt_print.indd 5 09/11/2021 17:31:28
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the long course of a project like this, one inevitably falls into great debt to many
parties, the only repayment for which is the partial compensation provided by
expressions of gratitude. In this spirit, Courtney D. Fugate would like to thank
the following: his co-translators, Scott Stapleford and Curtis Sommerlatte, for all
their encouragement and hard work; his co-editor on this Bloomsbury series, Anne
Pollok, for her unflagging commitment; Robert Clewis, Hanno Birken-Bertsch, Ken
Westphal, Andree Hahmann, and Michael Sellhoff, for providing invaluable, expert
feedback on the contents of this volume, much of which helped the translators avoid
more than a few blunders; John Hymers, for his advice on issues related to Latin;
Bloomsbury Academic, and especially their philosophy editor, Colleen Coalter,
for supporting this project; and finally his colleagues at the American University of
Beirut. Special thanks are owed to Stephanie Kapusta, who gave him permission to
make use of her draft translation, “On Universal Speculative Philosophy.” Although
the version contained in this volume is in many respects entirely new, he would like
to acknowledge that it is still greatly indebted to her translation in ways that may not
be apparent. Nevertheless, Courtney Fugate takes full responsibility for any defects
in the current translation.
Curtis Sommerlatte would like to thank above all his co-translators, Courtney
D. Fugate and Scott Stapleford, for their meticulous work and support throughout
the project. Likewise, he would also like to thank Corey W. Dyck (for encouraging
him to work on Tetens), Ashley J. Inglehart (for her support in talking through
various issues), and Charlie McVicker (for help in working through early versions
of translations).
Scott Stapleford would like to thank his co-translators, Courtney D. Fugate and
Curtis Sommerlatte, for heroic efforts, and Lorne Falkenstein for planting thoughts
of Tetens in his head many years ago.
Let us take this moment to say a few words on how we regard some of the views
expressed in this volume. Tetens, from what we can tell, resisted many of the worst
prejudices of his age, embraced a remarkably complex view of human nature, and
was cognizant of at least some of the dangers of generalizing based upon racial and
national types. At the same time, like many of his age, he also occasionally employs
language and examples, or expresses views, that are no longer defensible and which
we certainly do not condone.
ABBREVIATIONS
TETENS’S WRITINGS
AbBD Abhandlung von den vorzüglichsten Beweisen des Daseins
Gottes/Treatise on the Most Prominent Proofs of God’s Existence
(1761)
AbhEU “Von der Abhängigkeit des Endlichen von dem Unendlichen”/“On
the Dependency of the Finite on the Infinite” (1783)
AbMK “Abhandlung von dem Maaß der lebendigen Kräfte”/“Treatise on
the Measure of Living Powers” (1761)
AsPh Über die allgemeine speculativische Philosophie/On the General
Speculative Philosophy (1775)
AusN Ausführliche Nachricht von der Einrichtung des Herzoglichen
Paedagogium zu Bützow/Detailed Report on the Institution of the
Ducal School at Bützow (1767)
BeyGT “Beytrag zur Geschichte der Toleranz in protestantischen
Ländern”/“Contribution Toward the History of Tolerance in
Protestant Countries” (1786)
ComPM Commentatio de principio minimi/Commentary on the Principle of
the Minimum (1769)
CorrKlop “Klopstocks Correspondenz mit Professor Tetens in Kiel, die
deutsche Orthographie betreffend”/“Klopstock’s Correspondence
with Professor Tetens in Kiel, Concerning German Orthography”
(1805)
GedEC “Gedanken von dem Einfluß des Climatis in die Denkungsart des
Menschen”/“Thoughts on the Influence of the Climate on the
Manner of Human Thought” (1759)
GedUM Gedancken über einige Ursachen, warum in der Metaphysik nur
wenige ausgemachte Wahrheiten sind/Thoughts on Some Reasons
Why There Are So Few Settled Truths in Metaphysics (1760)
gGZS “Über die göttliche Gerechtigkeit, den Zweck der göttlichen
Strafen”/“On Divine Justice, the Purpose of Divine Punishment”
(1783)
GrNE “Über die Grundsätze und den Nutzen der Etymologie”/“On the
Principles and Benefit of Etymology” (1765–6)
MetIC “Methodus Inveniendi Curvas, Maximum vel Minimum efficientes
universaliter, et ex analyticis principiis demonstrata”/“A General
viii ABBREVIATIONS
Method for Discovering Curves Producing a Maximum or
Minimum, Demonstrated from the Principles of Analysis” (1764)
M Metaphysik/Metaphysics (2015)
PhV Philosophische Versuche über die menschliche Natur und ihre
Entwickelung/Philosophical Essays on Human Nature and Its
Development (1777)
ReBG78 “Über die Realität unsers Begriffs von der Gottheit. Erste Abtheilung
über die Realität unsers Begriffs von dem Unendlichen”/“On the
Reality of Our Concept of the Divinity. First Division, on the
Reality of Our Concept of the Infinite” (1778)
ReBG83 “Über die Realität unsers Begriffs von der Gottheit. Zwote
Abtheilung. Über den Verstand in der Gottheit gegen Hume.”/“On
the Reality of Our Concept of the Divinity. Second Division. On the
Intellect in the Divinity Contra Hume” (1783)
RezBe80 “Jakob Beattie’s, Professor der Moral und Logik in Aberdeen,
neue philosophische Versuche. Erster Band. Aus dem Englischen
übersetzt.”/“Jakob Beattie’s, Professor of Moral Philosophy and
Logic in Aberdeen, New Philosophical Essays. First Volume.
Translated from the English” (1780)
RezBe81 “Jakob Beattie’s, Professor der Moral und Logik in Aberdeen,
neue philosophische Versuche. Zweiter Band. Aus dem Englischen
übersetzt.”/“Jakob Beattie’s, Professor of Moral Philosophy and
Logic in Aberdeen, New Philosophical Essays. Second Volume.
Translated from the English” (1781)
RezEber “Von dem Begriffe der Philosophie und ihren Theilen. Ein
Versuch, womit beym Antritt … Amts eines öffentlichen Lehrers
der Philosophie zu Halle seine Vorlesungen ankündigt Joh. Aug.
Eberhard”/“On the Concept of Philosophy and Its Parts. An
Essay, at the Start of Which … the Office of a Public Teacher of
Philosophy in Halle Announces His Lectures, Joh. Aug. Eberhard”
(1779)
RezLos75 “Physische Ursachen des Wahren. Von Johann Christian Lossius,
der Weltweisheit ordentlicher Professor zu Erfurt”/“The Physical
Causes of What Is True. By Johann Christian Lossius, Professor
Ordinarius of Philosophy at Erfurt” (1775)
RezLos80 “Neue philosophische Litteratur, herausgegeben von Johann
Christian Lossius. Zweytes Stück”/“New Philosophical Literature,
Edited by Johann Christian Lossius. Second Part” (1780)
UrsE “Über den Uhrsprung der Ehrbegierde”/“On the Origin of the
Desire for Honor” (1766)
UrsSS Über den Ursprung der Sprachen und der Schrift/On the Origin of
Languages and Writing (1772)
VerEF “Schreiben an … über die Frage: Ob die Verschiedenheit der
Erkenntniß-Fähigkeiten und Neigungen der Menschen in einer
angebohrnen Verschiedenheit, oder in den äusserlichen Umständen
ABBREVIATIONS ix
seinen Grund habe?”/“Letter to … on the Question: Whether the
Difference in the Cognitive Capacities and Inclinations of Human
Beings Has Its Ground in an Innate Difference, or in External
Circumstances” (1761)
VerHN “Von der Verschiedenheit der Menschen nach ihren Haupt-
Neigungen”/“On the Difference of Human Beings with Respect to
Their Chief Inclinations” (1762–3)
VerNE “Über den verschiedenen Nuzen der menschlichen
Erkentnissen”/“On the Various Benefits of the Domains of Human
Knowledge” (1765)
ViaFC “De via facillima in motu corporum”/“Concerning the Easiest Path
in the Motion of Bodies” (1769)
ZAN “Über die Zeichen der Aufklärung einer Nation. Eine
Vorlesung”/“On the Signs of the Enlightenment of a Nation. A
Lecture” (1783)
OTHER WORKS
AA (vol.:p.) Gesammelte Schriften (Kant 1900–)
A/B The first (A) and second (B) editions of Kant’s Critique of Pure
Reason
Adelung Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der hochdeutschen Mundart,
by Johann Christoph Adelung (1774–86), available online at
the Münchener Digitalisierungs Zentrum, https://lexika.digitale-
sammlungen.de/adelung/online/angebot
Ebers The New and Complete Dictionary of the German and English
Languages Composed Chiefly after the German Dictionaries of
Mr. Adelung and of Mr. Schwan, 3 vols., enlarged by John Ebers
(Leipzig, 1796–9)
Grimm Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm
(Leipzig, 1854–1961), available online from the Universität Trier,
http://dwb.uni-trier.de/de/
Heyse Allgemeines Wörterbuch zur Verdeutschung und Erklärung der in
unserer Sprache gebräuchlichen fremden Wörter und Redensarten, 2
vols., by J. C. A. Heyse (Oldenburg, 1804)