Jane Sinnett's Preface and Author's Preface

modern

The Destination Of Man

by Johann Gottlieb FICHTE (1762 - 1814)

Johanne Fichte published The Destination of Man (Die Bestimmung des Menschen) in 1799. It was translated into English in 1846 by Jane Sinnett and then again in 1848 by William Smith. Fichte says his book is designed to "raise [the reader] from the sensuous world, to that which is above sense." Francis Bacon said, in The Advancement of Learning, "the two ways of contemplation are not unlike the two ways of action commonly spoken of by the ancients; the one plain and smooth in the beginning, and in the end impassable; the other rough and troublesome in the entrance, but after a while fair and even. So it is in contemplation; if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties." Rene Descartes said "in order to seek truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life, to doubt, as far as possible, of all things." Fichte moves from doubt to knowledge and finally to faith in his exploration of the self. (Summary by Craig Campbell)

Listen next episodes of The Destination Of Man:
Chapter 1 Doubt – The aim of my being , Chapter 10 Faith – To do is the destiny of man , Chapter 11 Faith – Inward voice , Chapter 12 Faith – Beyond good and evil , Chapter 13 Faith – The goal attained, what now? , Chapter 14 Faith – Causes and effects cannot be my destiny , Chapter 15 Faith – A member of two orders , Chapter 16 Faith – A will which is itself law , Chapter 17 Faith – The Infinite Will , Chapter 18 Faith – Creative life flows like a continuous stream , Chapter 2 Doubt - Chain of rigid, natural necessity , Chapter 3 Doubt - I call it mine , Chapter 4 – Doubt - Inquiry is closed , Chapter 5 Knowledge – Wondrous spirit , Chapter 6 Knowledge – Idea of causality , Chapter 7 Knowledge – The world without , Chapter 8 Knowledge - Sensation or contemplation , Chapter 9 Knowledge – Thy system … My system