Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy

Summary

In the book «Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy», Friedrich Engels analyzes the philosophical ideas of Ludwig Feuerbach and their impact on the development of German philosophy. Engels examines the transition from Hegel's idealism to Feuerbach's materialism, emphasizing that Feuerbach played a key role in dismantling the Hegelian system and laying the groundwork for Marxist philosophy. Engels criticizes Feuerbach for his limited understanding of materialism and underscores the necessity of a dialectical approach, which was developed by Marx and Engels himself. The book also touches on issues of religion, human nature, and society, offering a materialistic understanding of these concepts. Engels asserts that classical German philosophy concluded with Feuerbach, and on its foundation arose a new, more scientific philosophy based on dialectical materialism.