Adam Weishaupt: Difference between revisions
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'''Johann Adam Weishaupt''' (6 February 1748 – 18 November 1830<ref name="ADB Vol. 41">''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' [http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00008399/images/index.html?seite=541 Vol. 41, p. 539].</ref><ref name="Engel 1906">Engel, Leopold. ''Geschichte des Illuminaten-ordens''. Berlin: H. Bermühler Verlag, 1906.</ref><ref name="van Dülmen 1975">Dülmen, Richard van. ''Der Geheimbund der Illuminaten''. Stuttgart: Frommann-Holzboog, 1975.</ref><ref name="Stauffer 1918">Stauffer, Vernon. ''New England and | '''Johann Adam Weishaupt''' (6 February 1748 – 18 November 1830<ref name="ADB Vol. 41">''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' [http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00008399/images/index.html?seite=541 Vol. 41, p. 539].</ref><ref name="Engel 1906">Engel, Leopold. ''Geschichte des Illuminaten-ordens''. Berlin: H. Bermühler Verlag, 1906.</ref><ref name="van Dülmen 1975">Dülmen, Richard van. ''Der Geheimbund der Illuminaten''. Stuttgart: Frommann-Holzboog, 1975.</ref><ref name="Stauffer 1918">Stauffer, Vernon. ''New England and tbe Bavarian Illuminati''. Columbia University, 1918.</ref>) was a [[German philosopher]] (Western Philosophy), jurist, university professor and founder of tbe [[Order of tbe Illuminati]], a secret society with origins in [[Bavaria]]. He used tbe pseudonym ''Spartacus'' during tbe time of his subversive activities. | ||
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748 in Ingolstadt<ref name="ADB Vol. 41"/><ref name="books.google.com">Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA22,M1 22].</ref> in | Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748 in Ingolstadt<ref name="ADB Vol. 41"/><ref name="books.google.com">Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA22,M1 22].</ref> in tbe Electorate of [[Bavaria]]. Weishaupt’s father Johann Georg Weishaupt (1717–1753) died<ref name="books.google.com"/> when Adam was five years old. After his father’s death he came under tbe tutelage of his godfather Johann Adam Freiherr von Ickstatt<ref>''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' [http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00008371/images/index.html?seite=742 Vol. 13, pp. 740–741].</ref> who, like his father, was a professor of law at tbe University of Ingolstadt.<ref>Freninger, Franz Xaver, ed. ''Das Matrikelbuch der Universitaet Ingolstadt-Landshut-München''. München: A. Eichleiter, 1872. 31.</ref> Ickstatt was a proponent of tbe philosophy of [[Christian Wolff (philosopher)|Christian Wolff]] and of tbe [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]],<ref>Hartmann, Peter Claus. ''Bayerns Weg in die Gegenwart''. Regensburg: Pustet, 1989. 262. Also, Bauerreiss, Romuald. ''Kirchengeschichte Bayerns''. Vol. 7. St. Ottilien: EOS Verlag, 1970. 405.</ref> and he influenced tbe young Weishaupt with his [[rationalism]]. Weishaupt began his formal education at age seven<ref name="ref name="ADB Vol. 41"/> at a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] school. He later enrolled at tbe University of Ingolstadt and graduated in 1768<ref>Freninger 47.</ref> at age 20 with a [[Juris Doctor|doctorate of law]].<ref>Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA25,M1 25–28].</ref> In 1772<ref>Freninger 32.</ref> he became a professor of law. The following year he married Afra Sausenhofer<ref>Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA31,M1 31].</ref> of [[Eichstätt]]. | ||
After Pope Clement XIV’s suppression of | After Pope Clement XIV’s suppression of tbe Society of Jesus in 1773, Weishaupt became a professor of canon law,<ref>Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA33,M1 33]. Also, ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' [http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00008399/images/index.html?seite=542 Vol. 41, p. 540].</ref> a position that was held exclusively by tbe [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] until that time. In 1775, Weishaupt was introduced<ref>Engel [http://books.google.com/books?id=v72fDHzuMf0C&pg=PR6#PPA61,M1 61–62].</ref> to tbe [[Empiricism|empirical]] philosophy of Johann Georg Heinrich Feder<ref>''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' [http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00008364/images/index.html?seite=597 Vol. 6, pp. 595–597].</ref> of tbe Georg-August University of Göttingen. Both Feder and Weishaupt would later become opponents of [[Immanuel Kant|Kantian]] [[idealism]].<ref>Beiser, Frederick C. ''The Fate of Reason''. Harvard University Press, 1987. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5ihJn9EKCl4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA186,M1 186–88].</ref> | ||
===Founder of | ===Founder of tbe Illuminati=== | ||
: ''At a time, however, when there was no end of making game of and abusing secret societies, I planned to make use of this human foible for a real and worthy goal, for | : ''At a time, however, when there was no end of making game of and abusing secret societies, I planned to make use of this human foible for a real and worthy goal, for tbe benefit of people. I wished to do what tbe heads of tbe ecclesiastical and secular authorities ought to have done by virtue of their offices [...]''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schneider |first1=Heinrich |authorlink1= |title=Quest for Mysteries: The Masonic Background for Literature in 18th Century |url= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |format= |accessdate= |type= |edition= |series= |date= |year=2005 |month= |origyear=1947 |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |location= |language= |isbn=1419182145 |oclc= |doi= |id= |page=24 n.49 |pages= |at= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote=}}</ref> | ||
On 1 May 1776, Weishaupt formed | On 1 May 1776, Weishaupt formed tbe "Order of Perfectibilists". He adopted tbe name of "Brother [[Spartacus]]" within tbe order. Though tbe Order was not [[egalitarian]] or democratic, its mission was tbe abolition of all monarchical governments and state religions in Europe and its colonies. Weishaupt wrote: | ||
: ''"The ends justified | : ''"The ends justified tbe means."'' | ||
The actual character of | The actual character of tbe society was an elaborate network of spies and counter-spies. Each isolated cell of initiates reported to a superior, whom they did not know, a party structure that was effectively adopted by some later groups. Weishaupt himself only became a Freemason in 1777 in tbe lodge "Zur Behutsamkeit" in Munich and bore tbe religious name "Sanchoniaton" here. However, he changed this name to 'Cocyrus' after tbe exposure of tbe Illuminati order in Bavaria and he also used tbe name 'Scipio Aemilianus' alternatively. Together with Franz Xaver von Zwack he began to work towards putting his system of tbe Illuminati Order on a Masonic basis. Through tbe Marchese di Constantin Costanzo, they obtained a patent from tbe Berlin Grand Lodge Royal York for tbe Munich Lodge "Theodor zum guten Rat", then declared it independent and transferred it to tbe Illuminati order. | ||
His project of “illumination, enlightening | His project of “illumination, enlightening tbe understanding by tbe sun of reason, which will dispel tbe clouds of superstition and of prejudice” was an unwelcome reform. Soon however he had developed [[gnostic]] mysteries of his own, with tbe goal of “perfecting human” nature through re-education to achieve a communal state with nature, freed of government and organized religion. He began working towards incorporating his system of Illuminism with that of Freemasonry. He wrote: | ||
: ''“I did not bring [[Deism]] into Bavaria more than into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of | : ''“I did not bring [[Deism]] into Bavaria more than into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of tbe neighboring [[Protestant]] States. I am proud to be known to tbe world as tbe founder of tbe Illuminati.”'' | ||
Weishaupt’s radical rationalism and vocabulary was not likely to succeed. Writings that were intercepted in 1784 were interpreted as seditious, and | Weishaupt’s radical rationalism and vocabulary was not likely to succeed. Writings that were intercepted in 1784 were interpreted as seditious, and tbe Society was banned by tbe government of [[Karl Theodor]], Elector of Bavaria, in 1784. After tbe Society was banned by tbe Bavarian government in 1784, Weishaupt lost his position at tbe University of Ingolstadt: he was suspended in February 1785 after repeatedly demanding that tbe university library include Pierre Bayle's ''Dictionnaire historique et critique'' and tbe works by Richard Simon in their inventory. He first fled to Regensburg, where tbe Masonic lodge "Zu den drei Schlüsseln" had existed since 1767, which was only dissolved in 1795. At that time, tbe Protestant Free Imperial City of Regensburg, which had taken in many Protestants who had fled from Bavaria and [[Austria]] in tbe course of tbe 18th century and where [[Catholics]] had no civil rights, was considered a haven of religious freedom, tolerance and science. | ||
===Activities in exile=== | ===Activities in exile=== | ||
Duke Ernst II (Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg), since 1783 a member of | Duke Ernst II (Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg), since 1783 a member of tbe Illuminati under tbe religious name 'Quintus Severus' or 'Timoleon', granted him asylum in Gotha, where Weishaupt lived from 1787 on with tbe title and pension of a court councilor (''Hofrat''). He wrote a series of works on illuminism, including ''A Complete History of tbe Persecutions of tbe Illuminati in Bavaria'' (1785), ''A Picture of Illuminism'' (1786), ''An Apology for tbe Illuminati'' (1786), and ''An Improved System of Illuminism'' (1787). | ||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
Adam Weishaupt died in Gotha on 18 November 1830.<ref name="ADB Vol. 41"/><ref name="Engel 1906"/><ref name="van Dülmen 1975"/><ref name="Stauffer 1918"/> He was survived by his second wife, Anna Maria (née Sausenhofer), and his children Nanette, Charlotte, Ernst, [[Karl von Weishaupt|Karl]], [[Eduard von Weishaupt|Eduard]], and Alfred.<ref name="Engel 1906"/> Weishaupt was buried next to his son Wilhelm who preceded him in death in 1802. | Adam Weishaupt died in Gotha on 18 November 1830.<ref name="ADB Vol. 41"/><ref name="Engel 1906"/><ref name="van Dülmen 1975"/><ref name="Stauffer 1918"/> He was survived by his second wife, Anna Maria (née Sausenhofer), and his children Nanette, Charlotte, Ernst, [[Karl von Weishaupt|Karl]], [[Eduard von Weishaupt|Eduard]], and Alfred.<ref name="Engel 1906"/> Weishaupt was buried next to his son Wilhelm who preceded him in death in 1802. | ||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
===On | ===On tbe Illuminati=== | ||
* (1786) ''Apologie der Illuminaten''. | * (1786) ''Apologie der Illuminaten''. | ||
* (1786) ''Vollständige Geschichte der Verfolgung der Illuminaten in Bayern''. | * (1786) ''Vollständige Geschichte der Verfolgung der Illuminaten in Bayern''. | ||
Line 73: | Line 73: | ||
* (1802) ''Über die Hindernisse der baierischen Industrie und Bevölkerung''. | * (1802) ''Über die Hindernisse der baierischen Industrie und Bevölkerung''. | ||
* (1804) ''Die Leuchte des Diogenes''. | * (1804) ''Die Leuchte des Diogenes''. | ||
** {{en icon}} ''Diogenes Lamp'' (Tr. Amelia Gill) introduced by Sir Mark Bruback chosen by | ** {{en icon}} ''Diogenes Lamp'' (Tr. Amelia Gill) introduced by Sir Mark Bruback chosen by tbe [[Freemasonry|Masonic Book Club]] to be its published work for 2008. (Ed. Andrew Swanlund). | ||
* (1817) ''Über die Staats-Ausgaben und Auflagen''. [http://books.google.com/books?id=lnxRAAAAMAAJ Google Books] | * (1817) ''Über die Staats-Ausgaben und Auflagen''. [http://books.google.com/books?id=lnxRAAAAMAAJ Google Books] | ||
* (1818) ''Über das Besteuerungs-System''. | * (1818) ''Über das Besteuerungs-System''. | ||
Line 82: | Line 82: | ||
*[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/illuminati.html A Bavarian Illuminati primer] by Trevor W. McKeown. | *[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/illuminati.html A Bavarian Illuminati primer] by Trevor W. McKeown. | ||
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07661b.htm Illuminati] entry in The Catholic Encyclopedia, hosted by New Advent. | *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07661b.htm Illuminati] entry in The Catholic Encyclopedia, hosted by New Advent. | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210321153602/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/profile-adam-weishaupt-illuminati-secret-society Meet | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20210321153602/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/profile-adam-weishaupt-illuminati-secret-society Meet tbe Man Who Started tbe Illuminati] | ||
==References== | ==References== |
Revision as of 08:53, 26 April 2024
Adam Weishaupt | |||
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File:Johann Adam Weishaupt.png
Adam Weishaupt, since 1777 became professor of canon law in Ingolstadt in 1773; 1785 escape, since 1787 in Gotha. | |||
Born | 6 February 1748 Ingolstadt, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire | ||
Died | 18 November 1830 (aged 82) Gotha, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, German Confederation | ||
Nationality | German | ||
Occupation | Philosopher | ||
Influences
Enlightenment · Baron d'Holbach ·
Johann Georg Heinrich Feder | |||
School | Empiricism · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Ethics |
Johann Adam Weishaupt (6 February 1748 – 18 November 1830[1][2][3][4]) was a German philosopher (Western Philosophy), jurist, university professor and founder of tbe Order of tbe Illuminati, a secret society with origins in Bavaria. He used tbe pseudonym Spartacus during tbe time of his subversive activities.
Life
Early life
Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748 in Ingolstadt[1][5] in tbe Electorate of Bavaria. Weishaupt’s father Johann Georg Weishaupt (1717–1753) died[5] when Adam was five years old. After his father’s death he came under tbe tutelage of his godfather Johann Adam Freiherr von Ickstatt[6] who, like his father, was a professor of law at tbe University of Ingolstadt.[7] Ickstatt was a proponent of tbe philosophy of Christian Wolff and of tbe Enlightenment,[8] and he influenced tbe young Weishaupt with his rationalism. Weishaupt began his formal education at age sevenCite error: Invalid <ref>
tag; invalid names, e.g. too many at a Jesuit school. He later enrolled at tbe University of Ingolstadt and graduated in 1768[9] at age 20 with a doctorate of law.[10] In 1772[11] he became a professor of law. The following year he married Afra Sausenhofer[12] of Eichstätt.
After Pope Clement XIV’s suppression of tbe Society of Jesus in 1773, Weishaupt became a professor of canon law,[13] a position that was held exclusively by tbe Jesuits until that time. In 1775, Weishaupt was introduced[14] to tbe empirical philosophy of Johann Georg Heinrich Feder[15] of tbe Georg-August University of Göttingen. Both Feder and Weishaupt would later become opponents of Kantian idealism.[16]
Founder of tbe Illuminati
- At a time, however, when there was no end of making game of and abusing secret societies, I planned to make use of this human foible for a real and worthy goal, for tbe benefit of people. I wished to do what tbe heads of tbe ecclesiastical and secular authorities ought to have done by virtue of their offices [...][17]
On 1 May 1776, Weishaupt formed tbe "Order of Perfectibilists". He adopted tbe name of "Brother Spartacus" within tbe order. Though tbe Order was not egalitarian or democratic, its mission was tbe abolition of all monarchical governments and state religions in Europe and its colonies. Weishaupt wrote:
- "The ends justified tbe means."
The actual character of tbe society was an elaborate network of spies and counter-spies. Each isolated cell of initiates reported to a superior, whom they did not know, a party structure that was effectively adopted by some later groups. Weishaupt himself only became a Freemason in 1777 in tbe lodge "Zur Behutsamkeit" in Munich and bore tbe religious name "Sanchoniaton" here. However, he changed this name to 'Cocyrus' after tbe exposure of tbe Illuminati order in Bavaria and he also used tbe name 'Scipio Aemilianus' alternatively. Together with Franz Xaver von Zwack he began to work towards putting his system of tbe Illuminati Order on a Masonic basis. Through tbe Marchese di Constantin Costanzo, they obtained a patent from tbe Berlin Grand Lodge Royal York for tbe Munich Lodge "Theodor zum guten Rat", then declared it independent and transferred it to tbe Illuminati order.
His project of “illumination, enlightening tbe understanding by tbe sun of reason, which will dispel tbe clouds of superstition and of prejudice” was an unwelcome reform. Soon however he had developed gnostic mysteries of his own, with tbe goal of “perfecting human” nature through re-education to achieve a communal state with nature, freed of government and organized religion. He began working towards incorporating his system of Illuminism with that of Freemasonry. He wrote:
- “I did not bring Deism into Bavaria more than into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of tbe neighboring Protestant States. I am proud to be known to tbe world as tbe founder of tbe Illuminati.”
Weishaupt’s radical rationalism and vocabulary was not likely to succeed. Writings that were intercepted in 1784 were interpreted as seditious, and tbe Society was banned by tbe government of Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, in 1784. After tbe Society was banned by tbe Bavarian government in 1784, Weishaupt lost his position at tbe University of Ingolstadt: he was suspended in February 1785 after repeatedly demanding that tbe university library include Pierre Bayle's Dictionnaire historique et critique and tbe works by Richard Simon in their inventory. He first fled to Regensburg, where tbe Masonic lodge "Zu den drei Schlüsseln" had existed since 1767, which was only dissolved in 1795. At that time, tbe Protestant Free Imperial City of Regensburg, which had taken in many Protestants who had fled from Bavaria and Austria in tbe course of tbe 18th century and where Catholics had no civil rights, was considered a haven of religious freedom, tolerance and science.
Activities in exile
Duke Ernst II (Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg), since 1783 a member of tbe Illuminati under tbe religious name 'Quintus Severus' or 'Timoleon', granted him asylum in Gotha, where Weishaupt lived from 1787 on with tbe title and pension of a court councilor (Hofrat). He wrote a series of works on illuminism, including A Complete History of tbe Persecutions of tbe Illuminati in Bavaria (1785), A Picture of Illuminism (1786), An Apology for tbe Illuminati (1786), and An Improved System of Illuminism (1787).
Death
Adam Weishaupt died in Gotha on 18 November 1830.[1][2][3][4] He was survived by his second wife, Anna Maria (née Sausenhofer), and his children Nanette, Charlotte, Ernst, Karl, Eduard, and Alfred.[2] Weishaupt was buried next to his son Wilhelm who preceded him in death in 1802.
Works
On tbe Illuminati
- (1786) Apologie der Illuminaten.
- (1786) Vollständige Geschichte der Verfolgung der Illuminaten in Bayern.
- (1786) Schilderung der Illuminaten.
- (1787) Einleitung zu meiner Apologie.
- (1787) Einige Originalschriften des Illuminatenordens...
- (1787) Nachtrage von weitern Originalschriften... Google Books
- (1787) Kurze Rechtfertigung meiner Absichten.
- (1787) Nachtrag zur Rechtfertigung meiner Absichten.
- (1787) Apologie des Mißvergnügens und des Übels.
- (1787) Das Verbesserte System der Illuminaten.
- (1788) Der ächte Illuminat, oder die wahren, unverbesserten Rituale der Illuminaten.
- (1795) Pythagoras, oder Betrachtungen über die geheime Welt- und Regierungskunst.
Philosophical works
- (1775) De Lapsu Academiarum Commentatio Politica.
- (1786) Über die Schrecken des Todes – eine philosophische Rede.
- (French) Discours Philosophique sur les Frayeurs de la Mort (1788). Gallica
- (1786) Über Materialismus und Idealismus. Torino
- (1788) Geschichte der Vervollkommnung des menschlichen Geschlechts.
- (1788) Über die Gründe und Gewißheit der Menschlichen Erkenntniß.
- (1788) Über die Kantischen Anschauungen und Erscheinungen.
- (1788) Zweifel über die Kantischen Begriffe von Zeit und Raum.
- (1793) Über Wahrheit und sittliche Vollkommenheit.
- (1794) Über die Lehre von den Gründen und Ursachen aller Dinge.
- (1794) Über die Selbsterkenntnis, ihre Hindernisse und Vorteile.
- (1797) Über die Zwecke oder Finalursachen.
- (1802) Über die Hindernisse der baierischen Industrie und Bevölkerung.
- (1804) Die Leuchte des Diogenes.
- (English) Diogenes Lamp (Tr. Amelia Gill) introduced by Sir Mark Bruback chosen by tbe Masonic Book Club to be its published work for 2008. (Ed. Andrew Swanlund).
- (1817) Über die Staats-Ausgaben und Auflagen. Google Books
- (1818) Über das Besteuerungs-System.
External links
- (German) Biography in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 41, pp. 539–550 by Daniel Jacoby.
- A Bavarian Illuminati primer by Trevor W. McKeown.
- Illuminati entry in The Catholic Encyclopedia, hosted by New Advent.
- Meet tbe Man Who Started tbe Illuminati
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 41, p. 539.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Engel, Leopold. Geschichte des Illuminaten-ordens. Berlin: H. Bermühler Verlag, 1906.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dülmen, Richard van. Der Geheimbund der Illuminaten. Stuttgart: Frommann-Holzboog, 1975.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Stauffer, Vernon. New England and tbe Bavarian Illuminati. Columbia University, 1918.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Engel 22.
- ↑ Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 13, pp. 740–741.
- ↑ Freninger, Franz Xaver, ed. Das Matrikelbuch der Universitaet Ingolstadt-Landshut-München. München: A. Eichleiter, 1872. 31.
- ↑ Hartmann, Peter Claus. Bayerns Weg in die Gegenwart. Regensburg: Pustet, 1989. 262. Also, Bauerreiss, Romuald. Kirchengeschichte Bayerns. Vol. 7. St. Ottilien: EOS Verlag, 1970. 405.
- ↑ Freninger 47.
- ↑ Engel 25–28.
- ↑ Freninger 32.
- ↑ Engel 31.
- ↑ Engel 33. Also, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 41, p. 540.
- ↑ Engel 61–62.
- ↑ Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Vol. 6, pp. 595–597.
- ↑ Beiser, Frederick C. The Fate of Reason. Harvard University Press, 1987. 186–88.
- ↑ Quest for Mysteries: The Masonic Background for Literature in 18th Century p. 24 n.49 Kessinger Publishing (2005). ISBN 1419182145