Publication Date

5-1977

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Robert Johnston

Degree Program

Department of Philosophy & Religion

Degree Type

Master of Humanities

Abstract

In the critique of Ludwig Feuerbach's identification of the nature of man and of the nature of God, it is seen that his ideas stem from some aspects of Hegelian philosophy. Feuerbach's thought revolves around his conception of man. He believed, after much study, that he perceived in Hegelian philosophy a portrait of man that was veiled by Hegel's mystical concept of Absolute Mind. If, Feuerbach thought, one could strip away the idealistic tendencies of Hegelianism, then one would be left with a true picture of man. He reversed Hegelian thought and re - postulated man in his "Towards a Critique of Hegelian Philosophy." He concluded that man was a being that possessed the qualities of Reason, Will, and Affection.

Although Feuerbach believed that Hegelianism was a serious cause of man's alienation from himself and other men, he felt even more strongly that Christianity was the most prominent cause of this alienation. Therefore, he proceeded to criticize Christianity. In 1842 he published his greatest work, The Essence of Christianity. In that work Feuerbach attempted to illustrate the essence of the Christian religion. He sought to save those parts of religion that he considered to be true. These parts were the human qualities --Reason, Will, and Affection --which men had predicated to God. He also tried to demonstrate that if man considered the predicates of God and of man as become entangled in contradiction. separated, he would Feuerbach concluded that God was a man-made projection of the human species.

Feuerbach made his claims because he misunderstood the nature of man. If one seriously studies twentieth century man, one is forced to deny Feuerbach his presuppositions. Once Feuerbach's view of man is shown to be false, his conception of the existence of God and of man as the same being is also validated.

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | History of Philosophy | Philosophy | Religion

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