FICHTE’S VIEWS ON THE IDEA OF FREEDOM AND THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF THE STATE

• Main Author: Mikhail Vladimirovich Elizarov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science and Innovation Center Publishing House 2016-02-01
• Series: Sovremennye Issledovaniâ Socialʹnyh Problem
• Subjects: Fichte; Addresses to the German nation; public system of education; freedom; common national identity; public power; individual rights; social functions of the state; interventionism; closed commercial state
• Online Access: http://journal-s.org/index.php/sisp/article/view/8272

<p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US">This paper focuses on Fichte’s views of the idea of freedom and the social functions of the state. Addressing Fichte’s philosophical thoughts seems to be certainly relevant, because many questions raised by him remain quite topical even in today’s world, including such issues as the essence of human freedom, the purpose of the state as a social institution, national destiny, as well as possible ways to improve the existing system of public education.</p><p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US"><span class="char-style-override-1">Purpose.</span> In<span class="char-style-override-1"> </span>this paper, we will discuss the categories of «freedom», «state» and «national consciousness» presented in the writings of Johann Gottlieb Fichte, one of the major representatives of German classical philosophy.</p><p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US"><span class="char-style-override-1">Methodology.</span> Taking into account that the study submitted in this paper aims to analyze concrete author’s texts, we have used a number of formal and substantive methods, namely historical and philosophical, hermeneutical and typological methods, the method of shifting from abstract to concrete, as well as the comparative method.</p><p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US"><span class="char-style-override-1">Results.</span> The study revealed that the central element of Fichte’s political philosophy is the category of freedom. Freedom in Fichte’s interpretation displays itself in the five forms: spiritual freedom from illusions, prejudices or blind faith; cultural freedom from any foreign aggression, intervention and manipulation; economic freedom from want and inequality; moral freedom from the dictates of profitability and, lastly, freedom as the ability to create or be entitled to work.</p><p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US"><span class="char-style-override-1">Practical implications.</span> The results of the study can be used in the teaching of high school courses and special courses, in particular «The Theory of the State and Law», «The History of Philosophy» and «Political Science».</p>