The Concept of Summons and Its Role in the Constitution of Intersubjectivity in Fichte's Philosophy

Abstract

Philosophical thought in the early 18th and 19th centuries appears to have witnessed a new understanding of the self and a transformation of the "I"—shifting from mere individual consciousness to self-awareness and an understanding of the self's relationship with the Other. The philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a prominent figure in elucidating this theme; he did not stop at individual consciousness or the establishment of the "I" in its ideal form. Instead, he transcended these notions, seeking to move beyond individual consciousness—recognizing that it is only fulfilled through interaction with other selves within an ethical community. It is here that the concept of the "Call" (or "Vocation") emerges. The significance of this concept lies in its role as a philosophical principle through which Fichte seeks to clarify both ontological and ethical dimensions, while demonstrating the philosophical value of the concept in the construction of the self and the nature of its formation within an ethical community.On this basis, the research sought to elucidate the concept of the "call" and its foundations in the establishment of intersubjectivity, as well as to analyze its ethical and ontological dimensions, thereby revealing its philosophical significance in Fichte’s thought.