Celebrated today for his groundbreaking work in logic and the foundations of mathematics, Bernard Bolzano (1781-1848) was best known in his own time as a leader of the reform movement in his homeland (Bohemia, then part of the Austrian Empire). As professor of religious science at the Charles University in Prague from 1805 to 1819, Bolzano was a highly visible public intellectual, a courageous and determined critic of abuses in Church and State. Based in large part on a carefully argued utilitarian practical philosophy, he developed a non-violent program for the reform of the authoritarian institutions of the Empire, which he himself set in motion through his teaching and other activities. Rarely has a philosopher had such a great impact on the political culture of his homeland. This volume contains a substantial collection of Bolzano's writings on ethics and politics, translated into English for the first time. It includes a complete translation of the treatise 'On the Best State', his principal writings on ethics, an essay on the contemporary situation in Ireland, and a selection of his Exhortations, dealing with such topics as enlightenment, civil disobedience, the status of women, anti-Semitism and Czech-German relations in Bohemia. It will be of particular interest to students of central European philosophy and history, and more generally to philosophers and historians of ideas.
Author(s): Bernard Bolzano
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 380
Contents......Page 10
Introduction......Page 14
I: Selected Exhortations......Page 56
Want of Enlightenment (Ignorance and Error) Must be Seen as the True Cause of the Evils that Beset our Fatherland......Page 58
Several Very Important Consequences and Duties that Follow from the Conviction that Want of Enlightenment (Ignorance and Error) is the Cause of the Evils that Beset our Fatherland......Page 66
On Ways and Means of Already Bringing about a Better Shape of Things at the Present Time......Page 75
On Correct Conduct towards Enemies of Enlightenment......Page 84
On Correct Conduct towards Enemies of Enlightenment (conclusion)......Page 91
On Duties towards Unjust Authorities......Page 98
On the Relations between the two Peoples of Bohemia......Page 109
On the Relations between the two Peoples of Bohemia (continuation)......Page 118
On the Relations between the two Peoples of Bohemia (conclusion)......Page 128
On Conduct towards the Jewish Nation......Page 136
On the Mission and Dignity of Womanhood......Page 146
II: On Rights, Civil Disobedience, and Resistance to Authority......Page 154
On the Right of the Clergy to obtain their Livelihood from Persons not of their Faith (selections)......Page 156
III: Ethics and Philosophy of Religion......Page 182
§ 10 An inquiry that must precede all the others......Page 184
§ 11 There are Truths......Page 185
§ 12 There are several, and indeed infinitely many truths......Page 186
§ 13 We humans are in a position to know truths, and actually do know some......Page 187
§ 14 We do, indeed, sometimes err in our judgments; but under certain conditions we can be more or less assured that we do not err......Page 188
§ 15 Human beings are capable of being virtuous and happy......Page 191
§ 16 Many of the concepts and opinions people hold have an influence on their virtue as well as on their happiness......Page 196
§ 18 Our will has considerable influence on the formation of our beliefs......Page 199
§ 19 The concept of a moral proposition......Page 202
§ 20 Concept of the word religion......Page 203
§ 36 Concept of the most perfect religion......Page 205
§ 37 A person's highest duty with respect to his religion......Page 207
§ 38 A more detailed exposition of the particular duties contained in this highest duty......Page 208
§ 87 Concept and existence of a highest moral law......Page 212
§ 88 Derivation of this highest moral law......Page 213
§ 89 Objections against this highest moral law......Page 219
§ 90 Brief assessment of the most common differing opinions on the highest moral law......Page 222
§ 91 Uncertainty of all human virtue......Page 235
§ 92 What leads us to be untrue to our virtuous principles?......Page 236
§ 94 It is not only permissible but also a duty to make use of all the means at one's disposal for the cultivation of virtue......Page 237
§ 95 Several rules that may be applied in determining the relative worth of cultivators of virtue......Page 241
IV: Political Philosophy......Page 244
On the Best State......Page 246
Foreword......Page 250
Introduction......Page 253
1 On the citizens, the extent and the divisions of the state......Page 260
2 On legislation......Page 263
3 On government......Page 269
4 On means of coercion......Page 276
5 On freedom......Page 281
6 On equality......Page 282
7 On freedom of thought and religion......Page 288
8 On education and instruction......Page 292
9 On caring for health and life......Page 299
10 On citizens' property......Page 301
11 On money......Page 316
12 On citizens' activities and ways of life......Page 317
13 On the productive trades......Page 323
14 On commerce......Page 326
15 On scholars......Page 329
16 On books and censorship......Page 331
17 On the fine arts......Page 335
18 On nourishment......Page 337
19 On dress......Page 339
20 On housing......Page 340
21 On some measures concerning the differences between the sexes......Page 341
22 On satisfying the desire for honour......Page 344
23 On travel......Page 347
24 On amusements......Page 348
25 On disputes between citizens......Page 350
26 On the taxation of citizens and on public expenditures......Page 352
27 On rewards and punishments......Page 361
28 On death......Page 369
C......Page 371
F......Page 373
I......Page 374
L......Page 375
P......Page 376
R......Page 377
S......Page 378
W......Page 379
Z......Page 380
