As a publisher, journalist, literary critic, and satirist, Friedrich Nicolai ranks among the key figures of the German enlightenment. With his opposition towards irrationalism of any kind, he stimulated a lively culture of enlightened debate. The present volume seeks to contextualise Nicolais works fundamentally in order to fathom his achievements as well as his limitations. The focus lies on the concept of 'criticism' as this term implies not just literary criticism or criticism of superstition in Nicolai. It refers more comprehensivley to a basic cultural practice of the Enlightenment aiming at the rational distinction, systematisation, and evaluation of empirical realities. Against this background, the transdisciplinary range of contributions provides insight into lesser known, yet decisive aspects of Nicolai's work, such as moral didactics, popular enlightenment, encyclopaedism, his criticism of religion, and his take on the visual arts and music.