Feuerbach s departure from the traditional philosophy of Hegel opened the door f
or generations of radical philosophical thought. His philosophy has long been ac
knowledged as the influence for much of Marx s early writings. Indeed, a great a
mount of the young Marx must remain unintelligible without reference to certain
basic Feuerbachian texts.
These selections, most of them previously untransla
ted, establish the thought of Feuerbach in an independent role. They explain his
fundamental criticisms of the old philosophy of Hegel, and advance his own huma
nistic thought, which finds its bases in life and sensuality. Feuerbach s contem
poraneity as an existentialist, humanist, and atheist is clearly presented, and
the reader can readily grasp the liberating influence of this too-long neglected
philosopher.
