[lit-ideas] Re: The hilarity of Fichte
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2004 10:15:56 EDT
In a message dated 10/3/2004 4:52:03 AM Eastern Standard Time, goya@xxxxxxx
writes:
M.C. Am I the only one here who doesn't understand what's funny about=20
this?
----
Well, there's the literal interpretation:
The hilarity of 'Fichte'.
As in 'the hilarity of "Speranza"".
A slight difference: while "Speranza" is of Provencal origin -- and Italian,
it does not feature in the OED, neither as an entry nor as adjective.
"Fichte" is, instead, German, and it features in the OED as an adjective --.
Some
of the quotes happen to be, I guess, hilarious.
From the OED
'Fichtean' Pronunciation: 'fixtian' -- f. the name of the German philosopher
and author Johann Gottlieb Fichte (born in Germany 1762, died in Germany
1814).] Of, pertaining to, or connected with Fichte or his philosophy.
First cite:
1817 COLERIDGE Biog. Lit. I. ix. 148
The following burlesque on the Fichtean Egoismus may, perhaps, be amusing to
the few who have studied the system.
[Note that, like Erin, Coleridge focuses on the hilarity -- 'burlesque',
'amusing' -- side of the Fichtean system]
1859 J. S. MILL Liberty ii. 63
The intellectual fermentation of Germany during the Goethian and Fichtean
period.
[You will agree that speaking of 'fermentation' here -- as in champagne
-- is, here, funny]
1890 W. JAMES Princ. Psychol. I. x. 365
Kant deemed it of next to no importance at all. It was reserved for his
Fichtean and Hegelian successors to call it the first Principle of Philosophy.
[This is altogether serious, but his brother -- William James -- wrote
some funny novels, set in Rye, etc. ]
1910 W. JAMES Mem. & Stud. (1911) xv. 373
The author's maiden adventure..begins with dialectic reasoning, of an
extremely Fichtean and Hegelian type.
[--- I suppose the idea of a 'maiden adventure' should not be taken so
hilariously,]
Cheers,
JL
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