PESTALOZZI AND FICHTE – THE POWER OF EDUCATION

Abstract

The text explores the relationship between Pestalozzi and Fichte. The author argues that, with the exception of Kant, Pestalozzi had probably the strongest influence on the development of Fichte’s philosophy, and especially on his placing education in the focus of his philosophy. The influence of Pestalozzi on Fichte is most visible in Fichte’s critique of the existing education and the construction of a completely new conception of educational activity. It is at this point that Fichte directly relies on Pestalozzi’s insights into the importance of independence and self-activity in pedagogical practice. At the same time, there are significant differences between the two of them, clearly visible in Fichte’s conception of national education. This conception of Fichte must by no means be viewed only from the context of The Addresses to the German Nation but must be viewed as a whole of the development of Fichte’s philosophy, and especially in relation to the historical and educational circumstances that prevailed at the time. Keywords: education, independence, self-activity, selfishness, nation.