The progenitor of German idealism, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, lived through one of the most intellectually creative and politically turbulent epochs in history. He was deeply affected by such events of overriding historical and philosophical significance as the French Revolution, the appearance of Critical Philosophy and the rise and fall of Napoleon. As a young man, Fichte was inspired by the democratic ideals of the French Revolution and throughout his career endeavoured to unify his theory of cognition with a metaphysic of ethical action having profound political implications. At the height of his fame, he became the embodiment of German democratic unity in a politically fragmented Germany languishing under the shadow of the power of …
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Citation: Taylor, Rodney F.. "Johann Gottlieb Fichte". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 November 2005 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1516, accessed 21 November 2024.]
