Unit 5 - The People and the Fatherland (1807-1808)

Authors Bio: Author - Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814) - Born in Rammenau, Germany; Tutor; Philosopher; Founding Figure for German Idealism; He attended the Pforta school (1774-80), University of Jena (1780), and the University of Leipzig (1781-84); His major influence was Immanuel Kant. Kant was influential in the way Fichte thought, or viewed different topics. In 1792, Fichte submitted his Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung ("An Attempt at a Critique of All Revelation") to Kant who published this work. The Versuch explained the conditions in which revealed religion was possible; In 1795, Fichte became an editor of Philosophisches Journal; Other important works of Fichte's include Nachgelassene Werke (“Posthumous Works”) and of the Sämmtliche Werke (“Complete Works”). These works had a centralized focus on the topic of the unification of Germany, national recovery, etc; He died in 1814, in Berlin, Germany.

speaker - Johann Gottlieb Fichte

Date/Context: Written between 1807 and 1808, Fichte delivered numerous addresses regarding the frustration of German disunity and the drastic change in German Nationalism that arose in the 19th century. Germany was not officially unified until about 60 years later. Despite that, many people wanted Germany to be unified, and these same people offered an idealistic and practical foundation which resulted in new policies. Germany was unified in 1871. 

Summary: Fichte explains that the oldest common ancestors opposed the worldwide rule of the Romans, and believed that the people of Germany who were faced with Napoleonic rule should potentially oppose it as well. Fichte asked the question of why the German's would just give up what their ancestors fought for, and surrender to Napoleon and his tyrant-like rule. Johann continued to explain that Germans should fight to be Germans, instead of the subjects or more powerful nations.

Key Quotes: "... a true German could wish to live only to and to remain a German, and to have his sons the same."