Johann Joachim Spaldingand his “Destination of Man”

Abstract

J. J. Spalding (1714—1804) is one ofthe most outstanding thinkers of German Enlightenment, little-known in Russia. His “Destination of Man” (1748) represents the turn in the German philosophy that is carried out in the 18th century and finds the expressionin the shifting of attention from cognitive activity as the end object of human beingto the practicallive. The main question formulating by Spalding is “why I am here and what shall I be according to reason?” It opens discussions about human destination and end object of human live and is actual till the beginning of the 19th century. And the title “Destination of Man” is quickly brought into the philosophical use and occupies a firm place among the key words of German Enlightenment. With the article is enclosed the translation of the first edition of Spalding’s “Consideration about the destination of Man” (1748).