J. G. Fichte : foundation of the entire Wissenschaftslehre and related writings (1794-95)

The Wissenschaftslehre or "doctrine of science" was the great achievement of the German idealist philosopher J. G. Fichte. Daniel Breazeale presents accessible new translation 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 In addition Breazeale includes the transcripts of Fichte's unpublished "Zurich lectures" on his system (1794), translated here for the first time in English.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." 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).0Accompanying 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(1795), which was intended as a companion to the Foundation.0In addition Breazeale includes the transcripts of Fichte's unpublished "Zurich lectures" on his system (1794), translated here for the first time in English.0Breazeale supplements his translations with an extensive historical and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." Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 Preface 12 Editor’s Introduction 16 Texts 162 I. CONCERNING THE CONCEPT OF THE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE, OR OF SO-CALLED “PHILOSOPHY” 164 Preface to the First Edition (1794) 167 Preface to the Second Edition (1798) 169 First Part: Concerning the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre as Such 172 Second Part: Explication of the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre 185 Third Part: Hypothetical Division of the Wissenschaftslehre 204 II. FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE 208 Preface to the First Edition (1795) 211 Forward to the Second Edition (1802) 214 Part One: Foundational Principles of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre 215 Part Two: Foundation of Theoretical Knowledge 240 Part Three: Foundation of the Science of the Practical 335 III. OUTLINE OF WHAT IS DISTINCTIVE OF THE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE WITH REGARD TO THE THEORETICAL POWER 394 Appendix: “The Zurich Wissenschaftslehre” 452 Endnotes 476 Index 584 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.