Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof

Portrait of Johann Withof

Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof (born June 1, 1725 in Duisburg ; † July 2, 1789 in Duisburg) was a doctor and professor of history, eloquence and morality . He became famous for his philosophical didactic poetry, which experienced a final heyday through him.

Life

Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof was born on June 1, 1725 as the second son of the university professor Johann Hildebrand Withof and his wife Agnes Margarethe Gleim in Duisburg.

From 1737 to 1740 he attended grammar school in Duisburg and from 1740 the university in Duisburg . He took philology , history, philosophy and, from 1743, also medicine and mathematics. In 1746 and 1747 Withof carried out studies in Utrecht and Leiden . Here he also published his first major scientific work Ad systema Leuwenhoeckianum commentarii duo. Acc. Monstosorum renum historia .

After completing his medical studies with the thesis Diss. De aere in humanibus liquoribus harente in 1747 Withof settled as a doctor with great success in Lingen. As early as 1750 he was employed as an assistant at the medical faculty of the University of Duisburg . Research on human hair ( Diss. Anatomico phys. De pilo humano ) brought him scientific fame and recognition. Despite his volume of poetry published in 1751, he was unable to obtain a professorship at a prestigious university. The approaching Seven Years' War then forced him to accept a professorship at the high school in Hamm in 1752 . He could hardly produce outstanding scientific work here, except for a story of the high school in Hamm, a work on castration and a story of the assassins, The Assassin's Murderous Realm . Withof tells the story of the assassins at the time of the Crusades and explains the already existing terrorism of the suicide bombers through the indoctrinated, exaggerated longing for the post-mortem paradise and the absolute, unreserved obedience to the Sheykh . In 1752 he was elected a corresponding member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences .

From 1765 to 1770 he was a professor at the high school in Burgsteinfurt. As an inauguration dissertation, he wrote a fundamental thesis on raising children De optimo infantes ad virtutem et felicitatem educandi modo with clear rules for parents and educators from the first day of life. In this fundamental work on education in the age of the Enlightenment, he continues to call for better financial resources for schools and better training for teachers.

In 1770 , through the mediation of his cousin Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim , he was finally able to succeed his late father at the University of Duisburg as a professor of history, eloquence and morality. He had to give all public speeches and congratulations, was rector in 1776 and 1786 and worked as a city doctor in Duisburg. His philosophical introductions to the course catalogs of the University of Duisburg from 1771 to 1786 are remarkable during this period.

He died on July 2, 1789 in Duisburg.

family

He married Philippine Lüttringhausen in 1773 (born June 10, 1739 - † January 8, 1809 ). The couple had two children:

• Jeanette Christiana (* 1774)
• Friedrich August (* 1776)

poetry

Withof became famous for his philosophical didactic poems. In essence, they were created between 1745 and 1755 and are based on the ideas of the Enlightenment . The reason as the basis of the intellectual development of the people in the struggle for good and evil is always presented in a form that is pleasing. Poetry should be instructive and entertaining; The aim is to present difficult philosophical content in an appealing way.

A didactic poem dedicated to Christianity

Requires science, experience, silence, time.

Academic didactic poems 1782

Based on Christian ethics, the feeling of harmony with God and nature was an essential trait of Withofian poetry.

Never despise the chain of nature.

The smallest ring, like any creature,

Pleased and used to the bet with everyone.

But never fall asleep with beautiful rings.

The last one should be the resting place

Who embraces God, the Lord of the whole chain.

Academic didactic poems 1782

Withof wrote five great philosophical didactic poems: The Moral Heretic , Socrates , The Righteousness , The Medical Patriot, and Sensual Delights . The closeness to Shaftesbury with its combination of ethics and aesthetics with the natural feeling for good and bad is particularly evident in Socrates . As a Deist , any bigotry or doctrine was far from him.

The very highest good that is sent to earth

And, more and more recognized, more and more refreshed,

Is the diligence on useful business

Through first acquired, then only used forces.

Make an effort to get rid of mistakes more and more

And to be fully aware of this of one's worth;

That is the greatest good, commands the complaint to be silent,

Is already virtue here and virtue only,

In the heart it has a seat, in Christianity light,

Reason is his line and honesty is his duty.

In terms of poetry, he was closest to his great role model Albrecht von Haller . Several letters to him have been received. Johann Gottfried von Herder valued him very much and rewrote several of his poems, making them more pleasing in his opinion.

Resolutions

Well my spirit! Now that you are awake

Determine what is worth and useful to you;

Let stupid questions ask you in old age.

After all, death also comes into the youth;

A day can be worth as much to you as years;

What is a year of misused days?

Escape the strife that feeds on faith

Who rebels for the law against the law,

Missing yourself a lot so as not to exercise at all.

Have firm trust that a true man

Which order leads but can seldom err;

Those who love peace are never driven wrong.

The beauty that the whole world shows you

Go peeking until it reaches your instinct.

Gentle avarice ! Treasures must be piled up like that!

Your deep praise soars to God,

Then first imagine everything beautiful;

You can never understand God too well.

Conquer too strong passion

And then put the energy saved there

To the victim that you stoop to ignite

If you have the spirit that fills all worlds,

Always redesigned and revealed,

Find it most beautiful in man, in him.

Say goodbye to the world every day

So the rest will always be your profit

And don't waste any time unused.

Be mindful of life, not death!

The council knew when they brought you here

Has enough advice to continue to guide you.

By Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof

Excerpt from an adaptation by Johann Gottfried Herder (for the complete text, see web links)

Works

Cover of the " Sensual Delights "

• What is a loyal doctor? who seeks to serve all ... / LMQ Apprecatur Joh. Philippus Laurentius Withof (in Disputatio Medico-Practica Inauguralis De Vesicantium Usu In Morbis Pectoris / Publico Eruditorum Examini subject Moses Samuel. - Duisburg ad Rhenum, 1740, pp. 30–32) . Text online in Cato. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 .  .
• Ode (in Dissertatio Inauguralis Medica De Mercurii Vivi, Sive Crudi, Usu Interno Tuto Et Efficaci / Publico Philiatrorum examini submittit Christianus Sanders van Well.- Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1742, p. 32)
• Ode (in Dissertatio Inauguralis Medica De Sternutatione / Publico Philiatrorum examini submittit Wynandus Werner Weyermann. - Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1742, pp. 31–32)
• Do 'mente caussas non humili doces, ... / Jo. Phil. Laur. Withof Medicinae Studio (in Dissertatio Philologico-Theologica De Abrahamo Amico Dei ... / Quam ... Sub Praesidio ... Johannis ab Hamm ... Placidae Eruditorum Syzētēsei submittit ... Balthas. Eberhardus Withofius Duisburgo-Clivensis. - Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1743, pp. 47-48). Text online in tunamente. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved February 13, 2005 .  .
• Non arte Coo, non Podalirio, ... / Jo. Phil. Laur. Withof (in Dissertatio Inauguralis Medica De Curatione Podagrae Sine Pharmacis / Publicae ac placidae eruditorum disquisitioni subjicit Godofredus Überfeld. - Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1743, p. 30)
• Plaude, si sapis, o Thalia, chat! ... / LMQ Jo. Phil. Laur. Withof (in Dissertatio Inauguralis Medica, De Incubo / Publico Eruditorum Examini submittit Wilhelmus Loderus. - Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1744, p. 32)
• Elegia (in Dissertatio Inauguralis Medica De Chlorosi / Publico Eruditorum Examini submittit Marcus Cosman Gompertz, Clivo Clivensis. - Duisburgi ad Rhenum, 1745, pp. 32–34)
• Ad systema Leuwenhoeckianum commentarii duo. Acc. Monstosorum renum historia. Lugd. Batav. 1746.
• The honor of science; a poem. Lingen 1747. Text online in Die Ehre in Wissenschaften. Archived from the original on February 16, 2007 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 .  .
• De Aere in humanis liquoribus haerente Propositiones inaugurales etc.
• Diss. De aere in humanis liquoribus haerente. Duisburg 1748
• Diss. Anatomico physiologica I. de pilo humano. Duisburg 1750
• Diss. Anatomico physiologica II. De pilo humano. Duisburg 1751
• Poems. Bremen 1751
• Message from a formerly highly regarded Arzney scholar Aegidius Corboliensis. Duisburg 1751
• Ode (in Oratio, Quam memoriae Viri Amplissimi, Consultissimi Et Celeberrimi D. Casp. Theod. Summermanni, Utriusque Iuris Doct. Ac Professoris In Academia Duisburgensi Senioris Et Primarii / post peractas rite exsequias in Acroaterio majore habuit Iohannes Hildebrandus. Duisburgofius. - Rhenum. Duisburgofius , 1752, pp. [61] - 64)
• Ioann. Phil. Laur. Withofii ... Oratio de religione medica publice dicta d. 4th Decembris 1752 quum historiarum, philosophiae et eloquentiae ordinariam professionem solenniter capesseret * Dissertatio anatomico-physiologica secunda De pilo humano. Quam ... sub praesidio doctoris Joh. Phil. Laur. Withof, ... in auditorio majori publice defendet Theodorus Ruys medicinae candidatus, Gocha-Clivensis. the 1752
• Anatome pili humani; in Comment. Societ. Regiae. Göttingen 1753. Text online in De Anatome pilii. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 .  .
• Encouragement in moral poems. Dortmund 1755
• Diss. Duae de scientiarum in animi corporisque enervando robore damnosa efficacia. Duisburg 1756. De Scientarium, in animi corporisque enervando robore, damnosa efficacia. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007 ; Retrieved March 4, 2007 . 
• The moral heretics. Duisburg 1760
• De castratis commentationes quator. Lausanne 1762
• The murderous realm of the assassins. Kleve 1765, ISBN 3833411821
• De optimo infantes ad virtutem et felicitatem educandi modo. Steinfurt 1767. Text online in De optimo ex interiore humanae naturae scientia deducto infantes ad virtutem et felicitatem educandi modo. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 .  .
• Consilium primum de educatione infantum domestica. Burgsteinfurt 1767
• The honesty, a poem in three books. Halberstadt 1770. Text online in Die Redlichkeit. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012 ; Retrieved February 5, 2005 . 
• Prolusio continens animadversiones aliquas de poesi epica 1774
• Oratio De Pace Teschinensi: Dicata Avgvsto, Serenissimo Ac Potentissimo Principi Et Domino D. Friderico II. Regi Borussiae Et Rel.Regi Dominoqve Nostro Longe Clementissimo, Germaniae Libertatis Vindici Et Assertori Optimo Maximo / Habitaqve Academiae Regiae Dvisbine Phil. Lor. Withof. Duisburg 1779
• Oratio funebris in perluctuosum obitum Principis Regiae Dominae Ludovicae Amaliae, Principis Borussiae et rel. Duisburg 1780
• Academic poems, 1st part. Leipzig 1782. Text online in Academic Poems. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved February 13, 2005 . 
• Academic poems, part 2. Leipzig 1783
• Oratio Fvnebris In Obitum ... Friderici II. Regis Borvssiae ... / In Panegyri Maxime Solenni Devotissimae Academiae Regiae Dvisbvrgensis Nomine D. XXII. Septembris ... Habita A Io. Phil. Lavr. Withof ... 1786 44 pp.
• Literae, Qvae [quae] Spectant Ad Novam Bonnae D. XX. Novembris MDCCLXXXVI. Inavgvrandam [inaugurandam] Academiam: Exaratae Amplissimi Senatvs Academiae Regiae Dvisbvrgensis Nomine, Stylo Io. Phil. Lavr. Withof Io. Hildebr. Fil. ... Eloqv. Prof. ... HA Rectoris 1786
• Responsio Ad Literas Magnifici Rectoris Et Amplissimi Senatvs [Senatus] Academiae Heidelbergensis, Solennia Secvlaria [secularia] VI. ... Novembris Celebratvrae [celebraturae]: Qvam Nomine Rectoris Et Senatvs Academici Dvisbvrgensis, Reddidit Io. Phil. Lavr. Withof Io. Hildebr. Fil. ... Eloqv. Prof. ... HA Rector 1786
• Conversations with his children. 2 volumes. Duisburg 1792. Volume 3: Duisburg 1793 (published posthumously). Text online in conversations with his children. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 . 
• Directory of a collection of books which the late Councilor and Professor J. Ph. L. Withof left behind and which are to be sold to the highest bidders in the usual place here on February 1st, 1805 and the following days

literature

• Hermann Sickel: Johann Philipp Lorenz Withofs Metrics and Language . Leipzig 1895. Available online in Joh. Phil. Lor. Withofs metric and language. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 . 
• Georg Willy Vontobel: From Brockes to Herder, studies on the teaching poets of the 18th century . Buchdruckerei G. Grunau, Bern 1942 DNB 576823872 (dissertation University of Bern, Philosophical Faculty 1942, 303 pages + curriculum vitae).
• Leif Ludwig. Albertsen: The didactic poem . Aarhus 1967, OCLC 5666091 .
• Christoph Siegrist : The didactic poem of the Enlightenment . Metzler, Stuttgart 1974, ISBN 3-476-00274-8 .
• Albrecht Blank (ed.): Poets, thinkers and scholars, memories of JH and JPLWithof . Casa Blanka, Netphen 2001 OCLC 603874863 .
• Albrecht Blank (Ed.): Acadamic poems by JPL Withof . Casa Blanka, Netphen 2003, ISBN 3-8311-3184-8 .
• Albrecht Blank (ed.): The murderous realm of the assassins . Book on Demand, Norderstedt 2004, ISBN 978-3-8334-1182-3 .
• Albrecht Blank (Ed.): Die Redlichkeit , Book on Demand, Norderstedt 2010, ISBN 978-3-8423-4365-8 .
• Albrecht Blank (Ed.): Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof - Academic Poems , Book on Demand, Norderstedt 2013, ISBN 978-3-7322-9123-6 .
• Albrecht Blank (Ed.): Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof - Biographical Notes, Sources and Notes , Book on Demand, Norderstedt 2013, ISBN 978-3-7322-9294-3 .

Web links

• Literature by and about Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof in the catalog of the German National Library
• Works by Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof in the Gutenberg-DE project
• Johann Philipp Lorenz Withof in the Lexicon of Westphalian Authors

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Systema Leeuwenhoekianum. Archived from the original on February 16, 2007 ; Retrieved February 9, 2005 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b} De_castratis. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008 ; Retrieved August 13, 2006 . 
3. ↑ Holger Krahnke: The members of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen 1751-2001 (= Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Philological-Historical Class. Volume 3, Vol. 246 = Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Mathematical-Physical Class. Episode 3, vol. 50). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2001, ISBN 3-525-82516-1 , p. 262.
4. ↑ De optimo ex interiore humanae naturae scientia deducto infantes ad virtutem et celicitatem educandi modo. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012 ; Retrieved November 29, 2006 .