Husserl's god in the fichte lectures from 1917-1918

Abstract

This essay examines Husserl views on God and religion as presented in the Kaizo articles and in his 1917/18 lectures on Fichte. It argues that Husserl's own views end up quite close to the views that he presents in those lectures as Fichte's. In the end, belief in God serves as a postulate of practical reason for him, but one that goes beyond mere intellectual insight or hope for rewards in a future life. Rather, following Fichte, Husserl believes that the experience of the power of love and blessedness (Seligkeit) are not only consistent with the demands of morality but also can serve as a kind of healing power in this life for those who are open to their motivating power. This he believes is also the underlying motivation for religious intuitions that he takes as genuine and as finding different expressions across various ages and cultures.

Publication Title

Archivio di Filosofia

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS