Reason or Revolution? The Republicanism of Kant and Georg Forster
Keywords:
Republicanism, French Revolution, rationalism, public sphere.
Abstract
This article examines the life and political thought of German explorer, scientist and revolutionary, Georg Forster (1754-1794), one of the few members of the German Enlightenment to unambiguously support the cause of the French Revolution. Comparing Forster’s republicanism to Immanuel Kant’s (1724-1804), one finds that the political differences between the two authors are based on differing conceptions of the power that reason exerts over human will, and of its function in politics. Kant’s republican and reformist autocracy is opposed to Forster’s democratic republicanism, and to his unconditional defense of revolution, even in the case of a totalitarian revolutionary State.Downloads
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Published
2012-09-05
How to Cite
López de Lizaga J. L. (2012). Reason or Revolution? The Republicanism of Kant and Georg Forster. Foro Interno, 12, 81-106. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_FOIN.2012.v12.40003
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