The Transformation of Kant's Transcendental Idealism: Fichte's Wissenschaftslehre

This dissertation examines Fichte's original philosophical system, or the Wissenschaftslehre, against the background of Kant's transcendental idealism. Although his system is formulated within the context of the reconstruction of Kant's transcendental idealism, Fichte claims to posses the sole correct interpretation of Kant's view. He further asserts that he understands Kant better than Kant understands himself. This dissertation maintains that the issue of Fichte's relationship to Kant is a controversial one. It argues that Fichte's philosophical system is identical with and yet different from Kant's position. To the extent that Fichte rejects a representationalist solution to the problem of knowledge, this study contends that his system is true to the spirit of Kant's critical philosophy. However, to the extent that his method of presentation differs from Kant's, the dissertation argues that Fichte's view is his own, and should be evaluated on its own merit.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Agede, Kenneth Angwe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tom Rockmore
• Ronald Polansky
• Daniel Selcer

• Circular justification
• Epistemology
• German Idealism
• Monism
• Self-referentiality
• Wissenschaftslehre

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/251

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1255