Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung

Versuch einer Kritik aller Offenbarung (An Attempt at a Critique of All Revelation) is a significant work by German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte, published in 1792. In this book, Fichte explores the conditions under which religious revelation is possible, grounding it in the absolute requirements of the moral law. He posits that religion is the belief in this moral law as divine, and such belief is a practical necessity to strengthen the law.1

Fichte argues that revelation is conceivable for individuals whose lower impulses have overcome reverence for the moral law, suggesting that revelation can provide additional strength. Ultimately, he concludes that religion rests upon practical reason and fulfills human needs as dictated by the moral law, highlighting the prominence of the practical element in his philosophy and his tendency to make the moral requirements of the ego the basis for judging reality. This work was instrumental in establishing Fichte's reputation, as it was initially mistaken for a work by Immanuel Kant.1