Popular Works Volume 1

Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814) was the forerunner of the post-Kantian idealists and remains one of the most important figures in German philosophy. Throughout his career, Fichte published, in addition to his systematic or "scientific" treatises, the best known of which is the "Foundation of the Entire Wissenchaftslehre (1794-5), a series of works directed at the general public. The purpose of these "popular" writings was to indicate, in a non-technical manner, some of the characteristic features of the new transcendental philosophy and to explicate some of its more significant implications. William Smith translated most of these "popular writings" in the 19th century and published them individually and in the various editions of "The Popular Works of Johann Gottlieb Fichte". Each edition included corrections and improvements in the translation. In it, Fichte sets out to examine ‘the true purpose of man’. It is divided into three sections, Doubt, Knowledge, Faith. He addresses issues of free will and cause and effect, natural existence and perceived reality; and, finally, the ‘guiding’ matter of faith and God.