Lessing as a philosophical theologian

Abstract

The article concerns philosophical and theological views of G.E. Lessing. It was in the German Enlightenment that what today we call philosophical theology was born and began to actively develop. This concept was formulated in its expressed form by Kant. He also owns a brief but profound description of the essence of philosophical theology and its functions, as well as main features distinguishing it from biblical theology. Kant draws attention here to the freedom as an essential characteristic of a philosophical theologian, but also emphasizes that the results of philosophical research should be offered to biblical theologians as recommendations, but not as imposed truths. Likewise, biblical theology must give philosophical theology freedom of consideration, but must itself stand guard over the salvation of the souls of its entrusted flock. Within the framework of the philosophy of I. Kant, such an approach is based on the division he proposes between the private and public use of reason. However, we see that Kant for that matter is rooted in the philosophical and theological tradition that preceded him. No less a philosophical theologian can be considered G.E. Lessing. Despite the fact that Lessing himself herein does not use the concept directly, his position on issues of religion and faith and their philosophical understanding on that completely coincides with Kant’s. It can be seen especially clearly in the dispute that took place between him and Goeze in the framework of one of the most interesting and lively discussions of the German Enlightenment, namely the Fragmentenstreit. The article considers in detail the key stages of development of the discussion, as well as the positions of the parties. As a result, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that the discussion position defended by Lessing can be characterized as philosophical theology.