Spannung des Bewusstseins: Die Einheit des Ich in Fichtes Fruhphilosophie

Nicolas Bickmann shows that in the early phase of his philosophizing (1793-1800), Fichte develops various, extremely subtle and differentiated conceptions of the unity of finite consciousness. In each case, the relationship between the theoretical and practical capacities of the ego is at the core of this unity. The tension that exists between these different conceptions corresponds to the tension that exists in finite consciousness itself. Following the tracks of Fichte's philosophy, the author always keeps in view the question central to any theory of consciousness: How can the legitimate claim to theoretical knowledge of self and object in a causally closed external world be mediated with the claim to free, rational self-determination?