Tetens’s Writings on Method, Language, and Anthropology

Courtney D. Fugate is Associate Professor at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.Curtis Sommerlatte is Dean’s Postdoctoral Scholar at Florida State University, USA.Scott Stapleford is Professor of Philosophy at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, Canada.

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsPart 1. Introduction to the TranslationCourtney D. Fugate, in collaboration with Curtis SommerlatteIntroductionJohann Nicolaus Tetens (1736–1807): An Historical SketchTetens and KantResumé of the WorksVocabulary and StylePart 2. The Translations1. Thoughts on the Influence of the Climate on the Manner of Human Thought (1759)Translated by Courtney D. Fugate2. Thoughts on Some Reasons Why There are So Few Settled Truths in Metaphysics (1760)Translated by Scott Stapleford3. Letter to … on the Question: Whether the Difference in the Cognitive Abilities and Inclinations of Human Beings has its Ground in an Innate Difference, or in External Circumstances (1761)Translated by Curtis Sommerlatte4. On the Difference of Human Beings with Respect to their Chief Inclinations (1762–1763)Translated by Curtis Sommerlatte5. On the Principles and Benefits of Etymology (1765–1766)Translated by Courtney D. Fugate6. On the Various Benefits of the Domains of Human Knowledge (1765)Translated by Courtney D. Fugate7. On the Origin of the Desire for Honor (1766)Translated by Courtney D. Fugate8. On the Origin of Languages and Writing (1772)Translated by Courtney D. Fugate9. On the General Speculative Philosophy (1775) Translated by Courtney D. FugatePart 3. Ancillary MaterialsGlossaryBibliographyIndex

This excellent translation of Tetens’ writings on method, language, and anthropology is a major contribution to scholarship on modern German philosophy. Not only are Tetens’ works valuable for understanding Kant, they also illuminate the breadth and depth of philosophical reflection in a particularly rich period of intellectual history.