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 In addition Breazeale includes the transcripts of Fichte’s unpublished “Zurich lectures” on his system (1794), translated here for the first time in English.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.”

Table of Contents

I. CONCERNING THE CONCEPT OF THE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE, OR OF SO-CALLED “PHILOSOPHY”

Preface to the First Edition (1794)

Preface to the Second Edition (1798)

First Part: Concerning the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre as Such

Second Part: Explication of the Concept of the Wissenschaftslehre

Third Part: Hypothetical Division of the Wissenschaftslehre

II. FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE

Preface to the First Edition (1795)

Forward to the Second Edition (1802)

Part One: Foundational Principles of the Entire Wissenschaftslehre

Part Two: Foundation of Theoretical Knowledge

Part Three: Foundation of the Science of the Practical

Ill. OUTLINE OF WHAT IS DISTINCTIVE OF THE WISSENSCHAFTSLEHRE WITH REGARD TO THE THEORETICAL POWER

Appendix: “The Zurich Wissenschaftslehre”

About the Author

Daniel Breazeale is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky.