Abstract

The essay deals with the question whether Fichte’s socio-economic model which based both on the experiences and ideas of his time. Additionally, it explores how his socio-economic theorems stood out against cameralistic and feudal-conservative discussions and to what extent they can be described as an early critique of capitalism. Is the essence of Fichte’s socio-economic ideas to be seen in his model of state regulation or rather in his methodological claim of genetically developing the phenomena by showing their mediating links? What is however still relevant today is Fichte’s idea that human beings are not the objects or means of social relations but their subjects and aims. For this purpose, Fichte developed a concept of justice that is constitutive for his notion of society. Democracy aiming at an active use of reason and social justice are the two moments which depend on each other.