Contribution to the Correction of the Public's Judgments on the French Revolution

<p><b>First translation into English of Fichte's major work on the French Revolution.</b></p><p>The reception history of the French Revolution in France and England is well documented among Anglophone scholars; however the debate over the Revolution in Germany is much less well known. Fichte's <i>Contribution</i> played an important role in this debate. Presented here for the first time in English Fichte's work provides a distinctive synthesis of Locke's possessive individualism Rousseau's general will and Kant's moral philosophy. This eclectic blend results in an unusual rights theory that at times veers close to a form of anarchism. Written in 1792-93 just before Fichte moved to Jena to develop his philosophical system in a series of works-above all the <i>Wissenschaftslehre</i> of 1794-the <i>Contribution</i> provides invaluable insight into Fichte's early development. In addition Fichte's work predates much of Kant's political philosophy and can shed light on the rich dialogue in German political thought in the 1790s.</p>