Die Schuld der Trägheit. Fichte über moralische Zurechenbarkeit

This paper reconstructs Fichte’s theory of moral imputability. The paper argues that Fichte attempts to solve the problem of attributing immoral actions by introducing his concept of moral inertia, thereby drawing on Leibniz’s account. According to Fichte’s System of Ethics, moral inertia is not merely a state of moral passivity but can be attributed to laziness with regard to reflection, due to moral self-deception. The paper analyzes three kinds of moral self-deception and interprets them in light of what Fichte calls the “power of inertia”. Finally, the paper discusses possible ways to escape our self-inflicted inertia, thereby drawing on Kant’s conception of enlightenment.