Jacobi and his reading of Plato in the letters to Erhard and Schlosser

Abstract

The purpose of this article is the exposition of Plato's doctrine that Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi carried out towards the end of the 18th century in particular. Among the diversity of works written by the “Pempelfort polemicist”, we propose to review two writings that belong to his epistolary exchange: the fictional piece entitled “To Erhard O.” incorporated into the Allwill Papers in 1792 and the letter entitled “To Schlosser on his Continuation of the Platonic Symposium” written in 1796. The goal we pursue is to understand both his unique reception of the Athenian philosopher's ideas and his attempt to differentiate himself from the Platonism that was in vogue at that time. Firstly, we will trace the reasons that seem to have led Jacobi to become interested in Plato's doctrine based on an analysis and commentary on the letter to Erhard, based on the background of his confrontation with Kantian philosophy. Secondly, we consider it pertinent to pay special attention to the references that Pempelfort's polemicist makes to the Athenian's writings in his letter to Schlosser while taking some distance from the enthusiastic Platonism of his correspondent. Both letters reveal the relevance of Plato's doctrine, of the Philebus dialogue in particular, for Jacobi's renewed attempts to establish his philosophical position.