The Vocation of Man

work by Fichte

Also known as: “Die Bestimmung des Menschen”

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July 14, 2026

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The Vocation of Man is a philosophical work by Johann Gottlieb Fichte, a German idealist philosopher. In this work, Fichte explores the nature of human existence and our place in the universe. He posits that human beings are driven by a moral imperative and that our ultimate purpose is to achieve self-consciousness and union with the divine, which he defines as the moral order of the universe. Fichte's philosophy emphasizes the active role of the ego, or self, in shaping reality and understanding the world through reason and moral action. The work reflects his belief that practical reason and duty are fundamental to human existence and knowledge.12

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Johann Gottlieb Fichte
Years in Berlin
…Die Bestimmung des Menschen (1800; The Vocation of Man), in which he defines God as the infinite moral will of the universe who becomes conscious of himself in individuals; Der geschlossene Handelsstaat (also 1800), an intensely socialistic treatise in favour of tariff protection; two new versions of the Wissenschaftslehre (composed…
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…Die Bestimmung des Menschen (1800; The Vocation of Man), in which he defines God as the infinite moral will of the universe who becomes conscious of himself in individuals; Der geschlossene Handelsstaat (also 1800), an intensely socialistic treatise in favour of tariff protection; two new versions of the Wissenschaftslehre (composed…
Read More