ABSTRACT

The Gotha Rescript to the University of Jena anticipates and reiterates the reactions of the other Ernestine courts in their communiques regarding Fichte and Niethammer's defense: Their defense employs a newly coined and unintelligible lexis, which fails to exonerate them from the charge of editorial negligence. Ernst II Ludwig encourages the University of Jena to formally reprimand Fichte and Niethammer for propagating notions likely to be interpreted and understood in the most offensive manner. Moreover, the university should publicize this rebuke as warning to all other instructors so they will observe an appropriate discretion about the themes of God and religion in all their lectures. Likewise, all the instructors should be reminded that indiscretion about God and religion is not only harmful to the commonwealth but also harmful to indiscreet instructors. It should be impressed upon all the instructors that their foremost duties consist in promoting welfare and reputation of the university and teaching useful and wholesome subjects to youth.