Fichte's Transcendental Philosophy: The Original Duplicity of Intelligence and Will (Modern European Philosophy) [Hardcover]

Günter Zöller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521591600 | ISBN-13: 978-0521591607 | Publication Date: June 28, 1998

This is the first book in English on the early works of the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814). It examines the transcendental theory of self and world from the writings of Fichte's most influential period (1794-1800), and considers in detail recently discovered lectures on the Foundations of Transcendental Philosophy. Combining incomparable erudition, sensitive readings of some of the most difficult of philosophical texts, clarity in exposition and an acute awareness of historical context, this book takes its place as the ideal introduction to Fichte's thought.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a welcome addition to recent work in English on Fichte, work that seeks to recover and to examine Fichte's contributions to European philosophy." William F. Bristow, Ethics

"...Zöeller's sympathetic reading of Fichte brings new unity to an understanding of his thought." Elizabeth Millián-Zaibert, Philosophy in Review

"...Zöller has written a substantial and timel treatment of a very important subject." Fred L. Rush, Jr., Review of Metaphysics

Book Description

This is the first book in English on the major works of the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814). It examines the transcendental theory of self and world from the writings of Fichte's most influential period (1794-1800), and considers in detail recently discovered lectures on the Foundations of Transcendental Philosophy. Combining incomparable erudition, sensitive readings of some of the most difficult of philosophical texts, clarity in exposition and an acute awareness of historical context, this book takes its place as the ideal introduction to Fichte's thought.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (June 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521591600
• ISBN-13: 978-0521591607
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,836,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great intro, February 3, 2010

By 

Justin Evans (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fichte's Transcendental Philosophy: The Original Duplicity of Intelligence and Will (Modern European Philosophy) (Paperback)

Pretty good for the first two thirds, this quickly becomes incomprehensible and repetitive. Zoller knows his stuff, and does a great job summarizing the arguments in the introductions to Fichte's Wissenschaftslehre; he also does a decent job summarizing the arguments in the Wissenschaftslehre nova methodo. In fact, re-reading the introductions after this book makes me wonder if this introduction is really necessary, since I doubt it will be any easier to understand than Fichte himself for anyone not already hip to the new Kantianising interpretations of Fichte and Hegel and so on. But that's probably because I can see what's going on in the introductions very clearly now I've read this book.

The problem is that once Fichte decides that Pure Will will solve the circularity of thought and willing, and that Pure Will is kind of like God, the whole project comes to seem utterly beyond human ken. I guess that's why Hegel came along. But Zoller doesn't really clarify this turn so much as he does re-state his original interpretation in new and less clear terms. Anyway, chapter 1-6 of this are great. 7 & 8 are nonsense, but that might be Fichte's fault.

If you're reading this review, you might like to look up a couple of articles:

Henrich, D., 'Fichte's Original Insight,' in *Contemporary German Philosophy*, 1982
Pippin, R., 'Fichte's supposed subjective...' in Sedgwick, S., *The Reception of Kant's Critical Philosophy*, and supposedly in the Cambridge Companion to Fichte, which as far as I can tell doesn't exist.