Kleist et la "destination de l'homme". Nouvelle interprétation de la 'Kantkrise'

This paper addresses the well-known topic of Kleist's so-called 'Kantkrise' from a brand new perspective. As a matter of fact, it focuses on the concept of 'Bestimmung des Menschen' ('destination de l'homme', 'vocation of man') as the main problem underlying the crisis, which is usually traced back to the impact of such authors as Kant or Fichte. In so doing, the very idea of 'crisis' as a sudden event is questioned in favor of a slow and gradual intellectual development.