Germany has always been a nation of great thinkers, and it
gave us some of the greatest mathematicians, engineers, and scientists. During
the 1800’s, you had a time when the thinkers, in this case Fichte and
Schelling, were applying mathematical logic to philosophy, and it shows here in
their correspondence. Fichte discusses the difference between focusing on what’s
directly before you, as opposed to everything in your view (including the
surroundings.) It made me think that if Fichte has played baseball, he would’ve
written a whole book on using tunnel vision to pitch and hit! But the Germans
weren’t big on sports at the time, so his philosophy clearly shows the effect
of solitude. He doesn’t seem to have been influenced by communal living.
Schelling, on the other hand, is much more reflective. He
studies his own habits in his writings, and stresses the understanding of the
self, with emphasis on looking into the mirror to gauge your own strengths. He
also discusses the use of language in communication and as a self- imposed
barrier.
Correspondence is an important tool for studying history.
There were no phones in the 1800’s, so people had to communicate through
letters. Printing was more expensive too (no Xeroxes or even mimeograph
machines) so the writers had to be selective about what they published. When
you look at their letters, you see a whole lot of stuff that never made it to
the books, and even more that they didn’t want anyone to see. It’s like opening
an ancient box of hidden treasure.
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