فلسفه دین لِسینگ و روشنگری آلمانی (بازتاب و نظریه در مطالعه دین)

## Abstract Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–81) is held in high esteem as one who marks the cutting edge of the German Enlightenment. He was the very first German to achieve a spiritually and intellectually mature state of being, the hallmark of which is independent and responsible use of one's own reason. He also stands as a key figure in German intellectual history, a bridge joining Luther, Leibniz, and German idealism. Yet despite his well‐recognized importance in the history of thought, and despite a substantial body of in‐depth studies, Lessing as theologian or philosopher of religion remains an enigmatic figure. Even today, his theology or philosophy of religion is a subject of dispute. With regard to the genuine core of his theological or religious‐philosophical thought, researchers hold diametrically opposed interpretations. It is not without reason that scholars refer to the “riddle” or “mystery” of Lessing, a mystery that has proved intractable because of his reticence on the subject of the final conclusions of his intellectual project. Confronted with this perplexity in Lessing studies, this book seeks to resolve the enigma. On the basis of intensive study of the entire corpus of Lessing's philosophical and theological writings as well as the extensive secondary literature, it leads the reader into the systematic core of Lessing's highly elusive religious thought. From a detailed and thoroughgoing analysis of Lessing's developing position on Christianity and reason, there emerges a fresh image of Lessing as a creative modern mind, both shaped by and giving shape to the Christian heritage. Contents......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 Note on Texts and Translations......Page 16 Lessing's Significance for German Intellectual History......Page 20 Lessing and Modern Protestant Theology......Page 22 Tasks of Lessing Studies......Page 24 The Question of Methodology for Lessing Studies......Page 28 Lessing's Formative Period (Bildungsjahre)......Page 31 Lessing and the Fragments Controversy (Fragmentenstreit)......Page 35 Lessing's Theological Position......Page 37 Lessing and the Pursuit of Truth......Page 39 Salient Features of Lessing's Theological Thought......Page 42 The Young Lessing and His Religious Skepticism......Page 46 The Young Lessing and His Theological Critique......Page 48 The Ideal of Universal Humanity as Expressed in the Comedy The Jews......Page 51 Lessing's Speculative Reflections in The Christianity of Reason......Page 53 3 THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN LESSING AND GOEZE......Page 58 Beginning and Development of the Controversy......Page 59 Goeze's Attack......Page 61 Lessing's Defense......Page 64 Lessing's Anti-Goeze......Page 68 4 LESSING'S “UGLY BROAD DITCH”......Page 73 The Proof of the Spirit and of Power......Page 74 Truths of History and Truths of Reason......Page 77 The “Inner Truth” of Religion......Page 79 Genuine Christian Love......Page 81 The Authenticity of Lessing's “Ugly Ditch”......Page 84 Lessing's Problem and Peter's Problem......Page 86 5 NATHAN THE WISE AND LESSING'S “IDEAL OF HUMANITY”......Page 89 The Background and Main Theme of Nathan the Wise......Page 90 The Parable of the Three Rings......Page 92 The Truth Claim of a Historical Religion in the Interim......Page 96 Nathan and the Education of Humanity......Page 99 The Essence of Nathan's Reason......Page 102 6 LESSING'S BASIC THOUGHT IN The Education of the Human Race......Page 107 Basic Features of The Education of the Human Race......Page 108 Basic Structure of The Education of the Human Race......Page 110 Lessing's Historical Position......Page 111 Revelation as the Education of the Human Race......Page 114 Revelation and Reason: (1) The Old Testament Age......Page 117 Revelation and Reason: (2) The New Testament Age......Page 121 A “New Eternal Gospel” and the Completion of the Human Race......Page 125 The Idea of Reincarnation......Page 128 A Dialectical View of Revelation and Reason......Page 130 7 LESSING'S “SPINOZISM”......Page 135 The Beginning of the Pantheismusstreit......Page 136 The Spinoza Conversations between Lessing and Jacobi......Page 138 Jacobi and Spinozism......Page 142 Mendelssohn and “Refined Pantheism”......Page 145 Lessing's Hen kai Pan......Page 148 Lessing's Panentheism......Page 152 Lessing's View of God and the World......Page 154 CONCLUSION......Page 158 Notes......Page 165 Bibliography......Page 205 C......Page 219 E......Page 220 H......Page 221 K......Page 222 M......Page 223 R......Page 224 T......Page 225 Z......Page 226 "Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-81) stands as a key figure in German intellectual history, a bridge joining Luther, Leibniz, and German idealism. Despite his well-recognized importance in the history of thought, Lessing as theologian or philosopher of religion remains an enigmatic figure. Scholars refer to the "riddle" or "mystery" of Lessing, a mystery that has proved intractable because of his reticence on the subject of the final conclusions of his intellectual project. Toshimasa Yasukata seeks to unravel this mystery. Based on intensive study of the entire corpus of Lessing's philosophical and theological writings as well as the extensive secondary literature, Yasukata's work takes us into the systematic core of Lessing's thought. From his penetrating and sophisticated analysis of Lessing's developing position on Christianity and reason, there emerges a fresh image of Lessing as a creative modern mind, who is both shaped by and gives shape to the Christian heritage." "The first comprehensive study in English of Lessing's theological and philosophical thought, this book will appeal to all those interested in the history of modern theology, as well as specialists in the Enlightenment and the German romantic movement."--BOOK JACKET

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-81) stands as a key figure in German intellectual history, a bridge joining Luther, Leibniz, and German idealism. Despite his well-recognized importance in the history of thought, Lessing as theologian or philosopher of religion remains an enigmatic figure. Scholars refer to the "riddle" or "mystery" of Lessing, a mystery that has proved intractable because of his reticence on the subject of the final conclusions of his intellectual project. Toshimasa Yasukata seeks to unravel this mystery. Based on intensive study of the entire corpus of Lessing's philosophical and theological writings as well as the extensive secondary literature, Yasukata's work takes us into the systematic core of Lessing's thought. From his penetrating and sophisticated analysis of Lessing's developing position on Christianity and reason, there emerges a fresh image of Lessing as a creative modern mind, who is both shaped by and gives shape to the Christian heritage.

The first comprehensive study in English of Lessing's theological and philosophical thought, this book will appeal to all those interested in the history of modern theology, as well as specialists in the Enlightenment and the German romantic movement.

On the basis of intensive study of the entire corpus of Lessing's philosophical and theological writings as well as the extensive secondary literature, the author leads the reader into the systematic core of Lessing's highly elusive religious thought