Rights, Law and Revolution: Fichte and Erhard - PHI00147H

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Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the legal and political philosophy (the “philosophy of right”) of J. G. Fichte (1762-1814) and J. B. Erhard (1766-1827). Fichte and Erhard both drew upon Kant’s “critical philosophy” to develop an approach to legal and political philosophy that was capable of responding adequately to the challenges posed by the French Revolution. Whereas Kant condemned revolution, Erhard and Fichte both sought to defend it, each arguing that resistance and revolution were, under certain circumstances, morally permissible. In defending a right to revolution, Fichte and Erhard developed original positions and arguments on central issues in legal and political philosophy (issues such as the status of human rights, the nature of political obligation, and the relationship between law and morality).

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

This module aims to:

1. provide an introduction to the legal and political philosophy (the “philosophy of right) of J. G. Fichte and J. B. Erhard;
2. consider Erhard’s critique of Fichte’s defence of the right to revolution and of Fichte’s legal and political philosophy;
3. consider how the positions, theses, and arguments advanced by Fichte and Erhard relate to central debates in legal and political philosophy;
4. enable students to develop their skills in critical analysis, argument, and communication.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

1. understand and critically evaluate the positions, theses, and arguments advanced by Fichte and Erhard;
2. understand and critically evaluate Erhard’s critique of Fichte;
3. relate the legal and political philosophy of Fichte and Erhard to central debates within legal and political philosophy;
4. read and critically engage with challenging texts from a different philosophical tradition.

Module content

This module provides an introduction to the legal and political philosophy of J. G. Fichte and J. B. Erhard. We will explore the positions, theses, and arguments of Fichte and Erhard by critically engaging with translations of their work (some of which are yet to be published). And we will consider the relevance of those positions, theses, and arguments for central debates within legal and political philosophy.

Topics covered may include:

• The relationship between law and morality.
• The relationship between theory and practice.
• The nature and justification of human rights.
• The role of law in enabling domination.
• Political obligation.
• The legitimacy of resistance and revolution.
• Ideology and ideology critique.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The formative essay plan is due in Week 11 of Semester 1. The length should not exceed two pages of A4 in 12 point type.

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

• Verbal feedback will be given on the essay plan.
• All formative and summative feedback will be returned in accordance with University and Departmental policy.

Indicative reading

• Bergk, J. A. “Does Enlightenment Cause Revolutions?”, in J. Schmidt (ed.), What Is Enlightenment?: Eighteenth-Century Answers and Twentieth-Century Questions (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996).

• Clarke, J. A. and Gottlieb, G. (eds.) Practical Philosophy from Kant to Hegel: Freedom, Right, and Revolution (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021).

• Erhard, J. B., On the Right of the People to a Revolution, in J. B. Erhard, Writings on Revolution, trans. J. A. Clarke and M. Nance (Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming).

• Erhard, J. B., “Review of J. G. Fichte’s Contribution to the Correction of the Public’s Judgements on the French Revolution”, in J. B. Erhard, Writings on Revolution, trans. J. A. Clarke and M. Nance (Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming).

• Fichte, J. G., Contribution to the Correction of the Public’s Judgments on the French Revolution, trans. J. Church and A. M. Schön (New York: SUNY Press, 2021).

• Kant, I. “On the common saying: That may be correct in theory, but it is of no use in practice”, in I. Kant, Practical Philosophy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

• Kant, I. “An answer to the question: What is enlightenment?”, in I. Kant, Practical Philosophy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

• Rehberg, A. E. W., Investigations Concerning the French Revolution (1793) [excerpts], trans. M. Kryluk, British Journal for the History of Philosophy (published online: 28 June 2024).