Robert Philippson

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Robert Philippson (born May 14, 1858 in Magdeburg ; † November 27, 1942 in the Theresienstadt ghetto ) was a German classical philologist and high school teacher.

Life

Robert Philippson came from an old rabbi family. His father was the merchant Julius Philippson (1814–1871), his mother Bertha geb. Deer; the couple had two daughters and four sons, all of whom attended the Magdeburg High School. Robert Philippson entered there in 1867 and studied Classical Philology after graduating (Easter 1877). He began his studies at the University of Bonn , moved to the University of Leipzig in the winter semester of 1877/78 and from there to the Berlin University in the winter semester of 1879/80 , where he was particularly influenced by the history of philosophy Eduard Zeller . After graduationto the Dr. phil. (November 30, 1881) Philippson prepared for the teaching examination, which he passed on January 23, 1883. He acquired the license to teach Latin and Greek for the upper level I, in philosophical propaedeutics, history and geography in the lower level II. In a re-examination on January 13, 1885, he acquired the license to teach German (upper level I).

As a Jew, Philippson did not find employment at a Prussian grammar school. He completed his probationary year at the secondary school of the Jewish community in Frankfurt am Main . He then taught as an assistant teacher at the cathedral high school in Magdeburg . On April 1, 1886 he was employed as an assistant teacher at the Magdeburg König-Wilhelms-Gymnasium, where he was appointed full teacher on April 1, 1887, senior teacher in 1892 and high school professor in 1905. Philippson was the first and for a long time the only Jewish teacher at this school. In addition to teaching, he worked for the German Language Association. He used to play house music with his wife. The couple had three sons: Julius (1894–1943), Ernst (1897–1917) and Werner (1908–1968). The two oldest took part in the First World War. Julius became a Russian prisoner of war, from which he was only released in 1920; Ernst fell on the Western Front in 1917.

After his retirement (October 1, 1923) Philippson turned increasingly to his scientific interests. He dealt with Greek philosophy, especially with the writings of Philodemos of Gadara , which came to light at that time with the Herculanean papyri. Philippson wrote numerous essays in which he reconstructed the fragmentary writings and analyzed their philosophical system. He published in various magazines, including those abroad, which was inevitable, especially during the National Socialist era . He has also written articles for the real encyclopedia of classical antiquity (RE), including on Philodemos and Cicero's philosophical writings.

After the Reichspogromnacht in 1938, Philippson's youngest son was arrested for a short time and taken to a concentration camp; after his release he emigrated to Great Britain. The eldest son Julius had been in a concentration camp since 1937. Robert Philippson and his wife stayed in Magdeburg until they were arrested in autumn 1942 and taken to the Theresienstadt ghetto . There they stayed with his cousin Alfred Philippson .

In all of this he continued his scientific work. His last self-completed essay appeared in the American Journal of Philology in April 1943 . Robert Philippson died on November 27, 1942 at the age of 84. A few months later, his wife also died.

Fonts (selection)

  • De Philodemi libro qui est περὶ σημείων καὶ σημειωσέων et Epicureorum doctrina logica . Berlin 1881 (dissertation)
  • Aesthetic education. A contribution to the teaching of Kant, Schiller and Herbart . Magdeburg 1890 (school program)
  • Studies on Epicurus and the Epicureans. Following W. Schmid (†) edited by CJ Classen . Hildesheim 1983 (with list of publications)

literature

  • Wolfgang Schmid: Robert Philippson . In: Journal for Philosophical Research . Volume 3 (1948), pp. 113-115
  • Achille Vogliano: In memoria di Robert Philippson . Milan 1949
  • Johanna Philippson : The Philippsons, a German-Jewish Family (1775-1933) . In: Leo-Baeck-Institute, Yearbook 7 (1962), pp. 95–118 (on Robert Philippson especially pp. 114f.)
  • Wolfgang Schmid: Hommage to Robert Philippson In: Actes du VIII e Congrès, Association Guillaume Budé . Paris 1969, pp. 169-172
  • Alfred Philippson: How I became a geographer. Recorded in the Theresienstadt concentration camp between 1942 and 1945. Edited by Hans Böhm and Astrid Mehmel . Bonn 1996, p. 26; 172; 265; 819
  • Astrid Mehmel: Philippson, Robert. In: Guido Heinrich, Gunter Schandera (ed.): Magdeburg Biographical Lexicon 19th and 20th centuries. Biographical lexicon for the state capital Magdeburg and the districts of Bördekreis, Jerichower Land, Ohrekreis and Schönebeck. Scriptum, Magdeburg 2002, ISBN 3-933046-49-1 , p. 544 (with picture) ( article online ).

Web links

Wikisource: Robert Philippson  - Sources and full texts
personal data
SURNAME Philippson, Robert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German classical philologist and high school teacher
DATE OF BIRTH May 14, 1858
PLACE OF BIRTH Magdeburg
DATE OF DEATH November 27, 1942
Place of death Theresienstadt ghetto