Ludwig Feuerbach was born in a family lawyer.Studying at the Theological Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, he came under the influence of Hegel and entered the University of Berlin in the Faculty of Philosophy.But his fate was such that he has experienced a lot of frustration - in the philosophy of Hegel and "civilized" life.Until his death he lived in the village.His major works he wrote there - "Critique of Hegel's philosophy", "Essence of Christianity", "Principles of the Philosophy of the Future" - are building the foundations of a new philosophy, which is characterized as an anthropological materialism.
One of the components of this philosophy is the critique of idealism.Feuerbach calls the German classical philosophy idealistic because she is trying to bring the outside world of thinking.This leads to the domination of dogma, alerting religious views on philosophical manner, to a kind of "refined religion."Simply, if the conventional religious views dominate theism - the belief in a personal God, the German philosophy - impersonal Spirit knowable intelligence.The anthropological materialism of Feuerbach rejects Hegel's dialectic, as a kind of debate in which the truth is lost.The new philosophy needs to overcome the philosophy of Hegel, in alliance with the natural sciences to understand the real, not imaginary human capabilities.Moreover, it should raise the question of human nature, so that the unity of being and thinking only make sense in man, because man is the unity of the spiritual and corporeal substance, and its essence - in the experience, in the sensuality.
anthropological philosophy of Feuerbach in the system is a universal science.All his teachings permeated anthropologism.Nature for Feuerbach identical matter.It is eternal and diverse, endless, lively, determined by space and time.This is the only reality - it is nothing.Man as it completes the nature - is nothing less than human, and above it."The contemplation of nature and man contains all the mysteries of philosophy" - says the philosopher.The variety reflects the diversity of the human sense of nature.Knowledge is possible because of sensuality.
senses do not deceive us, nor are surface - they are sufficient for the knowledge of all phenomena.Feelings are universal - they have thought and thought - feeling.The anthropological materialism of Feuerbach puts forward the idea that thinking is based on sensuality and complements her "feel we read the book of nature, but we understand her thinking."Thus, thinking you only need to find the hidden meaning of things.However, the practical application, from the point of view of the philosopher, this kind of thinking is not, and should not be - a practice inimical to both philosophy and feelings, it is dirty and commercialism.
Unlike modern philosopher atheists, anthropological materialism of Feuerbach treats religion not as empty hype - it arose from fear and difficulty of primitive man, as well as from the inherent human desire for perfection."God, - concludes Feuerbach - that's what people want to be."Therefore, the essence of religion - in the human heart.The development of religion respective stages of historical development.When the man was completely dependent on nature, religion was a natural, and when a person has created an ideal and put him beside himself, worshiping abstract man - religion became spiritual.This is evidenced by such religious concepts, such as the Trinity, which is actually a symbol of the family.
anthropological materialism of Feuerbach brings the essence of Christianity in general and the religious feelings of love.The problem of religion is an unattainable ideal - it means that if the ideal is realized, religion will disappear (because the person does not have the body of superstition, ironically philosopher).A man driven by his passions, above all, selfishness, and therefore freedom for a man - is to create the conditions for him, when he can do what he wants.The driving force of ethics is rational egoism, which is most fully expressed in love, because it best represents the relationship between the "I" and "you."Therefore spiritual religion should be, according to the philosopher, to replace the cult of natural and loving person.Summarizing the anthropology of Feuerbach, Engels once remarked that he "wants to throw all the people into the arms of each other, regardless of gender and age."
