Jean Deschamps (philosopher)

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Jean Deschamps (born May 27, 1707 in Bützow , † August 23, 1767 in London ) was a Franco-German philosopher , Prussian court preacher, theologian and writer. Deschamps is considered the most important popularizer and expert on Wolff's philosophy in French.

Life

Originally from the Périgord , his family moved to Mecklenburg during the Huguenot persecution . He studied philosophy in Geneva and theology with Wolff (1727-1729) in Marburg . From 1731 he lived in Berlin, where he met Ernst Christoph von Manteuffel , who introduced him to Friedrich II in 1736 . The trigger for this acquaintance was his French translation of the work German Logic by Christian Wolff, on which he worked during his time in Marburg.

Supported by Manteuffel, Dechamps was court chaplain of Rheinsberg for four years (1737 to 1740), where he preached Christian Wolff's school and translated his works. During this time he also taught the younger brothers Friedrichs, Heinrich and Ferdinand of Prussia in philosophy. From 1736 he was a member of the Societas Alethophilorum ; his critical attitude towards Voltaire finally led to a falling out with Frederick II, who was a great supporter of Voltair's philosophy. An intrigue initiated by Seckendorff , according to which Dechamps worked as an informant for the Habsburgs , and an affront staged by the Prussian court against his work Cours abrégé de la Philosophie Wolfienne, en forme de lettres did the rest. He then left the Prussian court after 1740 and went via The Hague and Amsterdam to Londen, where he preached as a priest in the Chapel of Duke-street , Westminster, and died in 1767.

Dechamp's works presented Wolff's philosophy in a generally understandable way. His formulations were characterized as less dry and strict than Wolff's. He was addressing young nobles and upper-class citizens of his time in particular, who primarily rejected courtly training and concepts.

In addition to philosophical topics, Dechamps mainly devoted himself to logic , ontology , cosmology and psychology .

family

Jean married Judith Chamier on April 4, 1753. They had the following children:

  • John Ezechiel (May 30, 1754 - February 23, 1831)
  • Dorothée Sophie (September 21, 1755 - March 9, 1819) ∞ 1784 John W. Mackie
  • Jeanne Charlotte (born November 19, 1756 - † May 10, 1757)
  • Jeanne Marianne (September 27, 1758 - May 18, 1759)
  • Suzanne Judith (October 1, 1759 - December 19, 1820) ∞ December 28, 1812 Thomas Cave Winscom, Vicar of Warkworth , Northumberland
  • Robert Josué (23 October 1762 - 4 May 1765)

Fonts

  • Logique, ou Réflexions sur le Forces de L'Entendement Humain, et Sur Leur Legetime Usage, Dans la Connoissance de la Verite (French translation of Christian Wolff's German logic ), Berlin 1736
  • Le Philosophy Roi, et le Roi Philosophy , Ernst Christoph v. Manteuffel & Ambrosius Haude (eds.), 1740
  • Recueil De Cinq Sermons , Berlin 1741
  • Cours Abrégé De La Philosophy Wolffienne: En Forme De Lettres. 2,2, Tome Second, Seconde Partie, Qui contient la Psychologie Raisonnée , Amsterdam - Leipzig 1747
  • Cours Abrégé De La Philosophy Wolffienne: En Forme De Lettres. 2,1, Tome Second, Premiere Partie, Qui contient la Psychologie Experimentale , Amsterdam - Leipzig 1747
  • Cours Abrégé De La Philosophy Wolffienne: En Forme De Lettres. 1, Tome Premier, Qui contient la Logique, L'Ontologie & la Cosmologie , Amsterdam - Leipzig 1747
  • Considérations sur la conversion et l'apostolat de S. Paul , Amsterdam 1751

literature

  • Andrea Reichenberger: Émilie du Châtelets Institutions physiques: About the basics of physics . Paderborn, Univ., Diss., 2014.
  • Frauke Böttcher: The mathematical and natural philosophical learning and working of the Marquise du Châtelet (1706–1749): A woman's access to knowledge in the 18th century . 2012, ISBN 3-642-32487-8 .
  • Susanne Lachenicht: Huguenots in Europe and North America: Migration and Integration in the Early Modern Period . 2010, ISBN 3-593-39177-5 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Deschamps, Jean
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Franco-German philosopher, Prussian court preacher, theologian and writer
DATE OF BIRTH May 27, 1707
PLACE OF BIRTH Bützow
DATE OF DEATH August 23, 1767
Place of death London