Magnificent rebels Flashcards
What was the Jena set?
A group of writers and thinkers who gathered in Jena in the mid-late 1790s. Developed new ideas of the self/subjectivity and the relationship of humans to art/nature etc.
Who was Schiller
A playwright/critic who wrote the Robbers which had somewhat revolutionary content. Always ill, stayed indoors. Good at falling out with first Fichte and then the Schlegels. Gave cold shoulder to Augustus Wilheln after Friedrich wrote disobliging review. Great mates with Goethe who visited him a lot in Jena. Wallenstein c. 1798
Who were the Humboldt’s
Older brother Wilhelm, mates with Schiller, clever but not great writer. Open marriage with Caroline. Brother Alexander, scientist/naturalist. Hung out in Jena for a bit then went travelling. Goethe very impressed with him.
Who was Caroline
C Bohner widowed with one surviving daughter. Had an exciting youth being enthusiastic about FR and being imprisoned as a result and getting pregnant by French officer. Eventually settles down with AW Schlegel and her daughter Augusta in Jena. Her house centre of Jena life. Works side by side with husband on Shakespeare translations and various other.
Who were the Schlegels
Augustus Wilhelm married to Caroline - translator/critic etc. Fairly easygoing. Brother Friedrich sharper and easy to fall out with. They (F in lead) started Atheneum and inlc uded Fragments - new literary genre. Start of Romanticism.
Who was Novalis
Young nobleman, in love with young Sophia who dies after 3 ops. Very clever, long analysis of Fichte. Mining engineer in family mines. Contributes to Atheneum. After Sophie’s death wants to will his own death. Contributes to Atheneum.
How was Goethe involved
Friends with most of Jena set. Most of all with Schiller. Manages to stay on good terms with Schlegels too. He becomes more productive again in this period eg Wilhem Meister. To and fro between Weimar and Jena. Not all in on idealism - happy to sit between idealism and realism. Likes empirical research. Colour theory etc.
When did Schelling get involved
Circa Chapter 12
Circa 1798 moves to Jena after austere protestant education. Had written works building on Fichte. Gets Professorship in Jena - Goethe advocating. Embarks on affair with Caroline Schlegel. His is naturephilosophie.
How was Fichte a part of it.
Phenomenon and originator of the Ice philosophy which sees subjectivity/self as central. Popular lecturer. Very influential on Jena set - although not himself very artistic.
How was imagination important?
Circa Chapter 10
Since plato imagination had been secondary. Descartes, Leibnitz, Spinoza distrusted it. Hume granted a more elevated place as driving a lot of action but still saw as product of experience eg golden mountain is combo of exp of gold and mountain. Kant uses it to bridge experience and concepts. Fichte saw it as central but the Schlegels added art to the mix.
What was Romanticism?
Circa Chapter 10
Not candlelit dinners. It was a break from the rules and order or classical forms. The driver was individual imagination and creativity. Anything (science) could be potentially Romantic if it had a certain “spirit”. Schlegels put Poetry at centre which included poetry, art, sculpture, novels etc
When did Fichte get booted out of jena?
Around 1798 - atheism controversy. Duke August wanted rid and accepted his threat to resign as a resignation. He went to Berlin and lived with F Schlegel for a while.
What happened in 1799.
Caroline and AW beginning to fall out. F Schlegel move to jena from Berlin leaving Fichte. Schiller moves to Weimar.
