Jakob Friedrich Fries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jakob Friedrich Fries
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| Born | 23 August 1773 Barby (present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)
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| Died | 10 August 1843 (aged 69) |
| Alma mater | University of Leipzig University of Jena |
| Era | 19th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Post-Kantianism |
| Institutions | University of Jena |
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Main interests
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Metaphysics Psychology Philosophy of science Philosophical logic |
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Notable ideas
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Empirical psychology as the basis of critical and transcendental philosophy Fries's trilemma |
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Influences
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Influenced
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Jakob Friedrich Fries (born August 23, 1773 – died August 10, 1843) was an important German thinker. He was a philosopher and a mathematician. He is known for his ideas that built upon the work of Immanuel Kant, a very famous philosopher.
Contents
Life of Jakob Friedrich Fries
Fries first studied theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. He attended a school run by the Moravian Church in Niesky. Later, he studied philosophy at the University of Leipzig and the University of Jena.
After traveling for a while, he became a professor in 1806. He taught philosophy and basic mathematics at the University of Heidelberg.
Early Philosophical Ideas
Even though he moved away from the religious ideas of the Moravians, he still valued their spiritual meaning. His early philosophical views were clear in his writings. These included Reinhold, Fichte und Schelling (1803) and System der Philosophie als evidente Wissenschaft (1804). He also wrote Wissen, Glaube und Ahnung (1805).
Fries' most important book was Neue oder anthropologische Kritik der Vernunft. It was published in 1807, with a second edition from 1828 to 1831. In this book, he tried to give a new base to Immanuel Kant's "critical philosophy." He did this by using psychology, which is the study of the mind.
He also published System der Logik in 1811. In 1814, he wrote Julius und Evagoras, which was a philosophical story.
Political Views and Challenges
In 1816, Fries was invited back to Jena. He became a professor of theoretical philosophy. This included mathematics, physics, and philosophy itself. He strongly disagreed with the popular ideas of Romanticism at the time.
In politics, Fries was a strong supporter of Liberalism. This meant he believed in individual rights and freedoms. He also wanted to see Germany united as one country. He played a big part in inspiring the creation of the Burschenschaft. These were student groups that promoted German unity and liberal ideas.
Fries also wrote a pamphlet in 1816 called Von deutschem Bund und deutscher Staatsverfassung. It was dedicated to "the youth of Germany." His ideas greatly influenced the student movement. This movement led to the Carlsbad Decrees in 1819. These were strict rules put in place by German governments to control political activity.
Trouble with Authorities
One of Fries' students was Karl Ludwig Sand. Sand later murdered a writer named August von Kotzebue. A letter from Fries was found on another student. In the letter, Fries warned Sand about joining secret groups. However, the authorities used this letter against Fries. They thought he was part of a conspiracy.
The Mainz Commission found him guilty. The Grand Duke of Weimar had to remove him from his professorship. Fries was also forbidden from lecturing on philosophy. However, the Grand Duke continued to pay him.
In 1824, Fries was called back to Jena. He became a professor of mathematics and physics. He was also allowed to teach philosophy in his own home to a small group of students. Finally, in 1838, he was given back his full right to lecture without restrictions.
Disagreement with Hegel
Fries had a well-known disagreement with another German philosopher, G. W. F. Hegel. In his book Philosophy of Right, Hegel criticized Fries. He didn't like Fries' involvement in student events and the Burschenschaft. Hegel believed Fries' ideas were based more on feelings than on clear thinking. He thought Fries' methods were not scientific enough, leading to illogical conclusions.
Fries responded by accusing Hegel of defending the powerful people in charge. He said that Hegel's ideas were not truly scientific. For Fries, Hegel's theories simply supported the government, especially the authorities in Prussia.
Important Writings
Here are some of the most important books Fries wrote during his time as a professor in Jena:
- Neue oder anthropologische Kritik der Vernunft (The New or Anthropological Critique of Reason, 1807)
- Handbuch der praktischen Philosophie (Handbook of Practical Philosophy, 1817–1832)
- Handbuch der psychischen Anthropologie (Handbook of Psychical Anthropology, 1820–1821)
- Die mathematische Naturphilosophie (The Mathematical Philosophy of Nature, 1822)
- System der Metaphysik (System of Metaphysics, 1824)
See also
In Spanish: Jakob Friedrich Fries para niños
- Neo-Kantianism
