Egotism in German Philosophy

"Egotism in German Philosophy" by George Santayana is a philosophical work written in the early 20th century. The book explores the nature of German philosophy, emphasizing its subjective and egotistical core, as well as its implications in the broader context of culture and morality. Santayana presents a critical analysis of German philosophical thought, particularly focusing on figures like Kant, Fichte, and Hegel, and argues that their ideas often reflect an overemphasis on the individual self at the expense of reality and communal values. The opening of the book lays the groundwork for Santayana's critique, revealing his perspective on German philosophy as fundamentally flawed yet influential. He expresses his skepticism about its validity and laments the pervasive egotism he perceives in its core tenets. Santayana introduces his views on the subjective nature of thought and the tendency of German philosophers to glorify this egotism, suggesting that it has contributed to a distorted understanding of existence, duty, and moral responsibility. By outlining the philosophical landscape, he sets the stage for a deeper examination of individualism versus collective experiences and the philosophical reflections that shape societal values. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Santayana was a Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist. Born in Spain, Santayana was raised and educated in the United States from the age of eight and identified as an American, yet always retained a valid Spanish passport. At the age of 48, he left his academic position at Harvard University and permanently returned to Europe; his last will was to be buried in the Spanish Pantheon in the Campo di Verano, Rome.