The Destination Of Man


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Johanne Fichte published The Destination of Man (Die Bestimmung des Menschen) in 1799. It was translated into English in 1846 by Jane Sinnett and then again in 1848 by William Smith. Fichte says his book is designed to "raise [the reader] from the sensuous world, to that which is above sense." Francis Bacon said, in The Advancement of Learning, "the two ways of contemplation are not unlike the two ways of action commonly spoken of by the ancients; the one plain and smooth in the beginning, and in the end impassable; the other rough and troublesome in the entrance, but after a while fair and even. So it is in contemplation; if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties." Rene Descartes said "in order to seek truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life, to doubt, as far as possible, of all things." Fichte moves from doubt to knowledge and finally to faith in his exploration of the self. (Summary by Craig Campbell)

Chapters

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Jane Sinnett's Preface and Author's Preface 7:02 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 1 Doubt – The aim of my being 18:52 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 2 Doubt - Chain of rigid, natural necessity 12:28 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 3 Doubt - I call it mine 9:30 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 4 – Doubt - Inquiry is closed 23:30 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 5 Knowledge – Wondrous spirit 22:40 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 6 Knowledge – Idea of causality 17:26 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 7 Knowledge – The world without 15:00 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 8 Knowledge - Sensation or contemplation 17:41 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 9 Knowledge – Thy system … My system 11:19 Read by Larry Wilson
Chapter 10 Faith – To do is the destiny of man 26:29 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 11 Faith – Inward voice 15:03 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 12 Faith – Beyond good and evil 21:21 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 13 Faith – The goal attained, what now? 5:18 Read by rewohwrew
Chapter 14 Faith – Causes and effects cannot be my destiny 15:20 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 15 Faith – A member of two orders 12:58 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 16 Faith – A will which is itself law 10:40 Read by Craig Campbell
Chapter 17 Faith – The Infinite Will 15:03 Read by KevinS
Chapter 18 Faith – Creative life flows like a continuous stream 25:46 Read by Craig Campbell