Abstract
This paper examines the Friesian School's influence, especially De Wette, on the reception of Jakob Friedrich Fries by Rudolf Otto in terms of the methodology of philosophy. It is well-known that Rudolf Otto's religious philosophy was influenced by Fries' philosophical standpoint, especially in terms of the methodology of philosophy. This means that, when Otto states the concept “divination” in his book Das Heilige (1917), he refers to Fries' central concept “aesthetic sense (Ahndung).” Otto was also known as a member of the Neo-Friesian School, which was established by Leonard Nelson. However, Otto's reference to Fries’ “aesthetic sense” and his conception of “divination” are inconsistent with Fries' original standpoint. This paper finds the roots of disagreement in an intervention of De Wette in Otto and Fries, a Friesian theologist to whom Otto also refers when developing the concept of “divination.” To illuminate the background of reception of Fries' philosophy by Otto, this paper examines De Wette's reception of Fries and his influence on Rudolf Otto's conception of religious philosophy.
