Book Description

A new translation directly from the original manuscript of Hegel's "Faith and knowledge or the reflective philosophy of subjectivity in the completeness of its forms as Kantian, Jacobian and Fichtean philosophy". The original title in German is "Glauben und Wissen oder die Reflexionsphilosophie der Subjektivität in der Vollständigkeit ihrer Formen als Kantische, Jacobische und Fichtesche Philosophie". This edition contains an extensive afterword on Hegelian philosophy by the translator and a timeline of his life and works. This essay was first published in the "Kritisches Journal der Philosophie," which was edited by Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. It appeared in the 2nd volume, 1st installment of the journal in Tübingen, published by Cotta in 1802. In it, Hegel discusses how various philosophers like Kant, Jacobi, and Fichte have dealt with the concept of the Absolute, indicating that it is beyond reason's grasp. Hementions the limitations of reason in understanding the Absolute and how philosophers have turned to faith when faced with the unknowable. Hegel suggests that the idea that reason is subordinate to faith, as expressed in older times, and against which philosophy vehemently asserted its absolute autonomy, has disappeared. Reason has asserted itself within positive religion, and there is now a sense that the conflict between philosophy and the positive aspects of religion, such as miracles, is considered obsolete and obscure.