Fichte, Johann

GOTTLIEB, ( feesh'ta,) one of the greatest philosophers of modern times, B. at Rammenau, in Upper Lusatia, 1762. He entered Jena University in 1780, where his study of dogmatic theology led him directly to the higher philosophical speculations. About 1790, while at Zurich, P. first began to study the philosophy of Kant, which took him, as he says, into a new world, and in 1791 he visited Kant at Königsberg. F's first work, the Critique of all Revelation, was published in the following year. In 1794 he became profe or of philosophy at the university of Jena, where his influence, especially as a moralist, became immense. Among his friends were Gœthe, Schiller, Novalis, the Schlegels, and many others of the distinguished men of that age. A charge of atheism was brought against F. in 1799, in consequence of which he left Jena, and settled in Pru ia, where he applied himself to the further development of his philosophy. In 1805 he was appointed profe or of philosophy at Erlangen. The French occupation of Berlin drove F. for a time to Königsberg and Copenhagen. On his return to the Pru ian capital in 1807, he was intrusted with the task of organizing the new university established by Frederick William. F's voice was heard at this time, like that of a prophet, in the famous Addre es to the German People, calling them to shake off the foreign yoke, and re-establish the independence of their country. In 1810 he was elected rector of the university, and D. in 1814.- Whatever be the value of P's philosophy, there is no question of the very high worth of his moral doctrine, or of the wholesome influence it exerted on some of the highest minds, and on the best literature of our age. His most popular works (translated into English by W. Smith) consist of The Vocation of the Scholar; The Nature of the Scholar; The Destination of Man; and The Characteristics of the Present Age, and the Way towards the Ble ed Life.