Knowledge as Image in the Late Philosophy of Johann Gottlieb Fichte

Abstract

Author analyses Fichte’s understanding of knowledge as image that related to his late period of creativity, precisely Doctrine of Science 1813. The appeal to the late period of Fichte’s work is necessary because these texts are little researched. They are also pre-mortal, so they can safely be called a mature work of Fichte’s philosophical project. The study of the late period allows us to destroy most of the stereotypes and deformations that overgrown Fichte’s philosophy until the second half of the twentieth century through dominant Hegelian interpretation. Explaining nature of knowledge, how it is in itself, Fichte tries to dissociate from philosophy of Spinoza at the same time, developing doctrine of the image as a manifestation of the Absolute. The image for him is not a copy of being, but possesses some autonomy, and at the same time, possesses the formative and creative capacity. The Absolute (God), who manifest himself through the image, but is not reduced to him and Fichte has difficulties with explanation how the Absolute is present in his manifestation. The article also investigates the idea of “I” as image of God. Philosopher understands limitation of the explanation of consciousness from the point of the same subject, therefore he appeals to rich metaphorical language, which has an aims to look on consciousness and reflection in different way. In this attempt to explain the nature of knowledge, the last word is not always told by the subject himself. Theological perspective over which the philosopher builds his doctrine of image broadens the understanding of knowledge like image of God.