Johann Gottfried von Berger

Johann Gottfried Berger , von Berger since 1717 (born November 11, 1659 in Halle , † December 2, 1736 in Wittenberg ), was a German medic.

origin

Berger was born as the son of the former rector at the grammar school in Halle Valentin Berger (born January 18, 1620 in Ohrdruf ; † May 22, 1675 in Halle ) and his wife Margaretha Katharina (née Faschen from Arnstadt , † 1695), married in 1655 . His youth was marked by intensive educational support in his parents' house, as experienced by his no less famous brothers Johann Heinrich von Berger (* 1657) and Johann Wilhelm von Berger (* 1672).

Life

After studying in Erfurt , he moved to the University of Jena, where he obtained a medical doctorate in 1682 . In order to complete his education further, he made trips to Paris and Italy . He completed his habilitation in Leipzig, where he was appointed associate professor. In Wittenberg he was offered an extraordinary professorship, which he took up on June 7, 1688. This enabled him that he was accepted as a full professor of medicine at the University of Wittenberg on July 30, 1688 . In 1690 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina Scholars' Academy . In 1692 Berger was promoted to the position of first professor at the medical faculty and combined his learning with a scientific mind and a critical mind.

As a physician, he represented the iatromechanical theories and turned against galenicism , the mysticism of the followers of Paracelsus and the Helmontians . He came out decisively against the teaching of Georg Ernst Stahl , which was based on the role of the soul in biological events ( animism ); and wrote various pamphlets on it. In his main work, published in 1702, he tried to explain the circulation and muscle movements on the basis of mechanical principles. Later he based his lectures on the instructions of the founder of the school of chemiatrics, Franz de la Boe , called Sylvius.

In the doctrine of remedies, Berger made a sharp distinction between "rational" and "empirical" cures and warned against the "remedia singularia et specifica", also "secreta et arcana", with which those seeking healing were inundated at the time. In general, Berger wants "artem medendi a corruptelis vindicare". In recognition of his services he was appointed personal and court physician by King August II of Poland and raised to the nobility. At his funeral, his brother Johann Wilhelm held an “Oratio in obitum Joh. Gothofr. Berger ”.

family

He married Benigna Christine Richter on February 12, 1864 . After her death, on January 10, 1736, he married Anna Maria Holmershausen , mistress of Döhstedt. No descendants are known.

Fonts

• "Physiologia medica sive de natura humana" Wittenberg 1702.
• Dissertationes medicae… / 3, 53 /… Dissertationem inavgvralem De flvore albo præside D. Io. Gothofredo Bergero… pp M. Christianvs Bened. Carpzovivs… ad Ivn. [MD] ccXI. ... Wittenberg 1711.
• "Oratio lectores" Wittenberg 1749.

A list of his writings can be found in Haller Bibl. Anat. I. 720 and Bibl. Pract. III. 641.

literature

• August Hirsch:  Berger, Johann Gottfried von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 2, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1875, p. 375.
• Walter Friedensburg : History of the University of Wittenberg . 1917.
• Johann Christoph von Dreyhaupt : Description of the hall circle . Emanuel Schneider, Halle 1750, p. 584.
• Gothaisches genealogical pocket book of the letter aristocratic houses 1911. Fifth year, p.47 .

Web links

• Johann Gottfried von Berger in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (English)
• Publications by and about Johann Gottfried von Berger in VD 17 .
• Publications by and about Johann Gottfried von Berger in VD 18 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Member entry by Johann Gottfried von Berger at the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina , accessed on March 25, 2016.