Körmöczi János fi lozófusi pályakezdése a jénai posztkantiánizmus hatásterében
János Körmöczi’s Philosophical Th inking Infl uenced by Post-Kantian Efforts

Summary/Abstract: János Körmöczi’s philosophical work is closely tied to the history of Hungarian reception of post-Kantianism. He attended the University of Jena in 1796, where he listened to lectures on the problems of Kantian philosophy, and he was the fi rst to translate some of Fichte’s texts into Hungarian, namely his pamphlet about the freedom of thinking titled „Zurückforderung der Denkfreiheit von den Fürsten Europens, die sie bisher unterdrückten” (“Reclamation of Freedom of Th ought from European Rulers: Which Th ey Previously Suppressed”). Körmöczi’s philosophical ideas had only a very limited infl uence, because he couldn’t publish his translation due to censorship, and therefore his interest in post-Kantian philosophy can only be verifi ed by reading his various manuscripts. The present article wants to answer to the question: “What conclusion can be drawn regarding the development and coherence of Körmöczi’s philosophical thinking on the basis of such limited information”. Th is investigation is based on secondary source materials, in accordance with the methodology of “Research of Related Material” (Konstellationsforschung) elaborated in the research of philosophical issues in Jena in the 18th century. Therefore, it analyses the inventory of Körmöczi’s library and his speeches on various non-philosophical themes. Körmöczi’s long-lasting interest in these areas is verifi ed by two things: his many books written by the main representatives of post-Kantian philosophy, and his quotations of them in his writings. Fichte’s effort was of primary importance for Körmöczi. The typical concepts of his philosophy in the Jena-period (for example: the ’perfection of mankind’ and ’will’) can be found in Körmöczi’s writings. Moreover, in 1802, he inserted a detail of his fi ve years earlier translation of Johann Gottlieb Fichte’s pamphlet in the text of the funeral speech for József Pákei. Th e importance of Fichte’s impact on Körmöczi can be seen in the work („Die Bestimmung des Menschen” (“The Destiny of Man”), which was not identifi ed by the earlier research. Körmöczi was also interested in the philosophy of nature. He had Kant’s work „Metaphysische Anfangsgründe” (“Th e Rudiments of Metaphysics”) in his library. However Schellings speculative philosophy of nature didn’t impress him, because Körmöczi left Jena in autumn 1797. He traveled to Göttingen, where he listened to Lichtenberg’s lectures in physics and astronomy among others. Körmöczi was inspired by Lichtenberg’s empirical point of view and later he utilized his learning as a lecturer in physics at the Unitarian College of Kolozsvár. He obtained several electrical tools such as an electrofor, with which he could reproduce the famous Lichtenberg electrical discharge demonstration ’Staubfi guren’ (“Dust Figures”). And thus Körmöczi utilized the experiences of his travels regarding the philosophy and science for a long time aft er his stay in Jena and Göttingen.

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