Atheism Dispute
Encyclopedia
The Atheism Dispute was an event in German cultural history that lasted between 1798–1800 which had an effect on the German philosophy
of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
was accused of atheism
after publishing his essay “Über den Grund unsers Glaubens an eine göttliche Weltregierung” (On the Ground of Our Belief in a Divine World-Governance) which he had written in response to Friedrich Karl Forberg
's essay “Development of the Concept of Religion” in his Philosophical Journal. Forberg had claimed that unbelievers could be moral if they act as if an all–seeing and punishing God exists. In his brief essay, Fichte attempted to sketch some of his preliminary ideas on philosophy of religion
formulated within his “Wissenschaftslehre” (doctrine of science). He characterized God as the living moral order of the world.
“On the Ground of Our Belief in a Divine World-Governance” provoked the publication of anonymous essay that accused both Fichte and Forberg of atheism and called for Fichte's dismissal from his post at the University of Jena. In the wake of the dispute, many essays were published in defense and against Fichte, as well as defense by Fichte himself. Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
eventually published his famous open letter to Fichte, which saw the first use of the word nihilism, and in which he equated philosophy in general and Fichte's transcendental philosophy in particular with “nihilism
.”
This dispute caused German authorities to suppress the original essay as well as threaten the University of Jena itself with preventing enrollment. Fichte was eventually forced to resign his position at Jena and to flee to Berlin
as a result of previously made statements in which he threated to resign if he were subjected to official government reprimand.
German philosophy
German philosophy, here taken to mean either philosophy in the German language or philosophy by Germans, has been extremely diverse, and central to both the analytic and continental traditions in philosophy for centuries, from Leibniz through Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Marx, Nietzsche, Heidegger...
of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
History
In 1798, Johann Gottlieb FichteJohann Gottlieb Fichte
Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a German philosopher. He was one of the founding figures of the philosophical movement known as German idealism, a movement that developed from the theoretical and ethical writings of Immanuel Kant...
was accused of atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
after publishing his essay “Über den Grund unsers Glaubens an eine göttliche Weltregierung” (On the Ground of Our Belief in a Divine World-Governance) which he had written in response to Friedrich Karl Forberg
Friedrich Karl Forberg
Friedrich Karl Forberg was a German philosopher and classical scholar.- Biography :He studied under Karl Leonhard Reinhold at Jena...
's essay “Development of the Concept of Religion” in his Philosophical Journal. Forberg had claimed that unbelievers could be moral if they act as if an all–seeing and punishing God exists. In his brief essay, Fichte attempted to sketch some of his preliminary ideas on philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
formulated within his “Wissenschaftslehre” (doctrine of science). He characterized God as the living moral order of the world.
“On the Ground of Our Belief in a Divine World-Governance” provoked the publication of anonymous essay that accused both Fichte and Forberg of atheism and called for Fichte's dismissal from his post at the University of Jena. In the wake of the dispute, many essays were published in defense and against Fichte, as well as defense by Fichte himself. Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi was an influential German philosopher, literary figure, socialite and the younger brother of poet Johann Georg Jacobi...
eventually published his famous open letter to Fichte, which saw the first use of the word nihilism, and in which he equated philosophy in general and Fichte's transcendental philosophy in particular with “nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
.”
This dispute caused German authorities to suppress the original essay as well as threaten the University of Jena itself with preventing enrollment. Fichte was eventually forced to resign his position at Jena and to flee to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
as a result of previously made statements in which he threated to resign if he were subjected to official government reprimand.
Related works
- J. G. Fichte: “On the Ground of Our Belief in a Divine World-Governance”
- F. K. Forberg: “Development of the Concept of Religion”
- Anonymous: A Father’s Letter to his Student Son about Fichte’s and Forberg’s Atheism
- Frederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
: “Saxon Letter of Requisition to the Weimar Court” - Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: “Weimar Rescript to the University of Jena”
- J. G. Fichte: Appeal to the Public
- K. L. Reinhold: “Letter to Fichte”
- J. G. Fichte: Juridical Defense
- Ernst Ludwig II, Duke of Saxe-MeiningenErnst Ludwig II, Duke of Saxe-MeiningenErnst Ludwig II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen , was a duke of Saxe-Meiningen.He was the third but second surviving son of Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Dorothea Marie of Saxe-Gotha.The death of his older brother Josef Bernhard made him the heir to the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen...
: “Gotha Rescript to the University of Jena” - Students of the University of Jena: “First Petition to Karl August of Saxony–Weimar–Eisenach”
- Karl August: “First Reply to the University of Jena”
- Students of the University of Jena: “Second Petition to Karl August of Saxony–Weimar–Eisenach”
- Karl August: “Second Reply to the University of Jena” 215
- J. G. Fichte: “From a Private Letter”
- F. H. Jacobi: "Letter on Fichte"
External links
- Johann Gottlieb Fichte at Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyStanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a freely-accessible online encyclopedia of philosophy maintained by Stanford University. Each entry is written and maintained by an expert in the field, including professors from over 65 academic institutions worldwide...
.