The Palgrave Fichte Handbook Edited by Steven Hoeltzel Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism Series Editor Matthew C. Altman Philosophy & Religious Studies Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA, USA Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism is a series of comprehensive and authori- tative edited volumes on the major German Idealist philosophers and their critics. Underpinning the series is the successful Palgrave Handbook of German Idealism (2014), edited by Matthew C. Altman, which provides an overview of the period, its greatest philosophers, and its historical and philosophical importance. Individual volumes focus on specific philosophers and major themes, offering a more detailed treatment of the many facets of their work in metaphysics, episte- mology, logic, ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy, and several other areas. Each volume is edited by one or more internationally recognized experts in the subject, and contributors include both established figures and younger scholars with inno- vative readings. The series offers a wide-ranging and authoritative insight into German Idealism, appropriate for both students and specialists. More information about this series at http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14696 Steven Hoeltzel Editor The Palgrave Fichte Handbook Editor Steven Hoeltzel Department of Philosophy and Religion James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA, USA Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism ISBN 978-3-030-26507-6 ISBN 978-3-030-26508-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26508-3 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or informa- tion storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: Dario Lo Presti / Alamy Stock Photo This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Preface Recent decades have witnessed a remarkable resurgence of interest in the phi- losophy of J. G. Fichte (1762–1814). Long misportrayed as a merely transi- tional figure propounding a simplistic subjectivism, Fichte now is increasingly acknowledged as a major philosophical innovator and a highly sophisticated thinker, whose challenging work richly repays careful study. At the same time, however, by comparison with the work of the other major German Idealists (Kant, Schelling, Hegel, Schopenhauer), Fichte’s own output remains rela- tively little-known and largely inaccessible to nonspecialists. This is unfortu- nate, because, even today, Kantian ideas and approaches continue to shape the philosophical landscape, and Fichte is the first, albeit the least famous, of the truly great post-Kantian philosophers. There therefore is a need for scholarly work on Fichte that, in addition to advancing various expert-level discussions, will simultaneously offer a solid (and not oversimplified) introduction and orientation to Fichte’s philosophy as a whole. The Palgrave Fichte Handbook is designed to help meet this need in a num- ber of ways. First, the volume is principally organized according to the basic branches of philosophy (thus not according to specific works or periods in Fichte’s career, or thematic niches within classical German philosophy—fairly standard approaches in the existing literature). Second, there is a strong com- parative focus throughout the book, with particular emphasis on the compli- cated relationships between Fichte’s philosophy and Kant’s. Schelling and Hegel make repeat appearances also, as do various representatives of existen- tialism, phenomenology, political theory, analytic philosophy, and so forth, so that Fichte’s philosophy is put forward with reference to its conceptual and historical context and impact. Finally, the book features a detailed introduc- tion which offers a basic overview of Fichte’s philosophy, integrated within v vi Preface which are brief treatments of the various more-specialized topics and prob- lems that the subsequent chapters explore in depth. Each of the book’s twenty-plus chapters combines helpful exposition, care- ful interpretation, and incisive argument. All are new essays by leading and emerging scholars of Fichte and German Idealism, including some of the most accomplished people currently working in the field. Thanks to each con- tributor’s adept and illuminating work with highly challenging material, The Palgrave Fichte Handbook is both an outstanding introduction to Fichte’s phi- losophy and a major contribution to Fichte scholarship. Harrisonburg, VA Steven Hoeltzel Series Editor’s Preface The era of German Idealism stands alongside ancient Greece and the French Enlightenment as one of the most fruitful and influential periods in the his- tory of philosophy. Beginning with the publication of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason in 1781 and ending about ten years after Hegel’s death in 1831, the period of “classical German philosophy” transformed whole fields of philo- sophical endeavour. The intellectual energy of this movement is still very much alive in contemporary philosophy; the philosophers of that period con- tinue to inform our thinking and spark debates of interpretation. After a period of neglect as a result of the early analytic philosophers’ rejection of idealism, interest in the field has grown exponentially in recent years. Indeed, the study of German Idealism has perhaps never been more active in the English-speaking world than it is today. Many books appear every year that offer historical/interpretive approaches to understanding the work of the German Idealists, and many others adopt and develop their insights and apply them to contemporary issues in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and aesthetics, among other fields. In addition, a number of international journals are devoted to idealism as a whole and to specific idealist philoso- phers, and journals in both the history of philosophy and contemporary phi- losophies have regular contributions on the German Idealists. In numerous countries, there are regular conferences and study groups run by philosophical associations that focus on this period and its key figures, especially Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, and Schopenhauer. As part of this growing discus- sion, the volumes in the Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism series are designed to provide overviews of the major figures and movements in German Idealism, with a breadth and depth of coverage that distinguishes them from other anthologies. Chapters have been specially commissioned for this series, vii viii Series Editor’s Preface and they are written by established and emerging scholars from throughout the world. Contributors not only provide overviews of their subject matter but also explore the cutting edge of the field by advancing original theses. Some authors develop or revise positions that they have taken in their other publications, and some take novel approaches that challenge existing para- digms. The Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism thus give students a natu- ral starting point from which to begin their study of German Idealism, and they serve as a resource for advanced scholars to engage in meaningful discus- sions about the movement’s philosophical and historical importance. In short, the Palgrave Handbooks in German Idealism have comprehensiveness, accessi- bility, depth, and philosophical rigor as their overriding goals. These are chal- lenging aims, to be sure, especially when held simultaneously, but that is the task that the excellent scholars who are editing and contributing to these vol- umes have set for themselves. Ellensburg, WA Matthew C. Altman Contents 1 Introduction: Fichte’s Post-Kantian Project 1 Steven Hoeltzel Part I Historical and Conceptual Context 31 2 Fichte’s Life and Philosophical Trajectory 33 Yolanda Estes 3 The Precursor as Rival: Fichte in Relation to Kant 57 Günter Zöller 4 Fichte, German Idealism, and the Parameters of Systematic Philosophy 75 Andreas Schmidt Part II Metaphilosophy and Method 95 5 Fichte on the Standpoint of Philosophy and the Standpoint of Ordinary Life 97 Halla Kim ix