Fichte, Johann Gottlieb

PHILOSOPHER (GERMANY)
BORN 19 May 1762, Rammenau, Sachsen (near Bischofswerda) - DIED 29 Jan 1814, Berlin
CAUSE OF DEATH typhus fever
GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof, Chausseestrasse (CH-4-22/23 (Ehrengrab))

Johann Gottlieb Fichte started his theology studies in Jena in 1780, but he left in 1784 without obtaining a degree. He worked as a private tutor in Zürich where F.G. Klopstock's niece Johanna Rahn (1755-1819) became his fiancee. After he tried to educate the parents of his pupil as well he was fired from the household where he was teaching.

He moved to Leipzig and in 1790 he started studying Kant's works. Kant was a major influence to him for the rest of his life. In 1792 his "Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung" ("Attempt at a Critique of All Revelation") was published without his knowledge and his name on it and it was erroneously thought to be a new work by Kant. Kant denied the authorship but praised the work and Fichte's name was made.

In October 1793 he married Johanna and in that same year he obtained a professorship in Jena. In 1799 he was forced to leave his after he was accused of propagating atheism. In 1805 he became professor of Philosophy in Erlangen and in 1811-1812 he was the first elected rector of the University of Berlin of which he was one of the founders.

In 1813 his wife fell ill with a fever after nursing wounded soldiers. At the time she was recovering he fell ill as well. He died early in 1814, aged 51.

Related persons
• influenced Arndt, Ernst Moritz
• was teacher of Fries, Jakob Friedrich
• was opponent of Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich
• was a friend of Tieck, Ludwig

Images

The grave of J.G. Fichte at the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof, Berlin.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 1996)

 

Sources
Berlin Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof, Berlin
Johann Gottlieb Fichte – Wikipedia


Fick, Roderich

Published: 02 Nov 2008
Last update: 11 Feb 2023