General characteristics of German classical philosophy. Main ideas and directions

General characteristics of German classical philosophy are being studied in detail in our day, in fact it is a unique phenomenon in world culture. It is classical German philosophy that is the basis of modern philosophy. For a century of its existence, it managed not only to study in detail the problems that have tormented humanity for many centuries, but also to unite in itself practically all the currents that existed at that time, from subjective idealism to irrationalism and vulgar materialism. The general characteristic of German classical philosophy is based on names known to the whole world as Kant, Marx, Hegel, Fichte, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Engels and others.

I. Kant (1724-1804) - the founder of German classical philosophy. He proposed a revolutionary explanation of the origin of the solar system, based on Newtonian laws (from discharged particles of matter rotating in the form of a nebula). In addition, he belongs to the theory of the existence of limits of cognitive ability, as well as the unpreparedness of man to comprehend the inner essence of phenomena and things. Kant also advanced the doctrine of categories and formulated a moral law. Among other things, it was he who for the first time suggested the "eternal peace" in the future, which will be based on the economic inexpediency of wars and their legal prohibition. Immanuel Kant is a name without which a general description of German classical philosophy would be impossible.

Another philosopher, Georg Hegel, helped to substantiate the concept of objective idealism, which was extremely common in several Western states. This was possible thanks to the teachings of the absolute idea (the prime cause of all things, our material world, which is independent of consciousness). Hegel was the one who first identified thought and being.

However, the real crown of his activity was the development of dialectics - the doctrine of the basic principles and laws of universal development.

He supplemented the ideas of Hegel Johann Fichte (1762-1814). In his opinion, the only and basic reality for a person is himself, his thoughts and feelings.

The ideas and theories of these three philosophers were subsequently repeatedly supplemented and perfected by other people, and the general characteristic of German classical philosophy also changed.

For example, L. Feuerbach (1804-1872), whose works were related to a later period, criticized idealism and sought to depict a coherent and integral materialistic picture of the world. Feuerbach was an ardent atheist, and therefore sought to prove the artificiality of God and transfer to his image of unrealized human ideals.

The characteristic of German classical philosophy is first and foremost the domination of the idealistic position. That is why the philosophers of modern times, for the most part, focus on the subject, and not on the object. Another important feature of the philosophical teachings was pantheism - the rejection of the image of God as a separate person, like man, and the identification of God from the whole universe, the belief in the unity of all living things and the sanctity of nature.

German classical philosophy, the general characteristic of which has become the topic of our discussion today, is the most powerful foundation on which all modern philosophical doctrines are based.