Jacobus Wittichius
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Wittichius (1677–1739) was a German-Dutch philosopher, a Cartesian and follower of Burchard de Volder
, and holder of controversial views on the nature of God.
. He studied under Herman Alexander Roëll, at the University of Franeker
.
A Latin dissertation at the University of Duisburg
in 1711, on the nature of God, and at least nominally against Benedictus de Spinoza and Frederik van Leenhof, raised some questions about his orthodoxy. In 1717 he was a candidate for a chair at the University of Groningen
, and was opposed by the theologian Antonius Driessen. Once he was given the chair, Wittichius found that Driessen continued to campaign against him, using an unauthorized Dutch translation of his Duisburg dissertation (anonymous but from the circle of Ruardus Andala); and his links to de Volder. Taco Hajo van den Honert of the University of Leiden moved in to defend Wittichius, and in the end he accepted a chair at Leiden instead. Leiden city and university now resisted outside pressure from Rotterdam
in particular. Johann Franz Buddeus
intervened, getting the Jena
theology faculty to assert that the views of Wittichius were close to those of Spinoza and Abraham Joannes Cuffeler. Wittichius was comprehensively attacked in a pamphlet by Jacobus Leydekker in 1719. His position became a matter of wide discussion in the United Provinces
; he defended himself by analogy with Johannes Bredenburg
, and arguing that Cartesianism was effective against Spinozism.
Wittichius went on in combative fashion in his inaugural oration, with praise for Francis Bacon
and Galileo, blame for the approach in philosophy of Gisbertus Voetius
, employing Cartesian terminology, and making an allusion to Spinoza's Ethics
. He continued to attack the views of Driessen and the Roëll family.
Burchard de Volder
Burchard de Volder was a Dutch natural philosopher.Born in a Mennonite family in Amsterdam, he first studied in Utrecht and from 1670 he studied philosophy at the University of Leiden under Franz de le Boë...
, and holder of controversial views on the nature of God.
Life
He was the son of Tobias Wittich and nephew of Christophorus Wittichius, and was born in AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. He studied under Herman Alexander Roëll, at the University of Franeker
University of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
.
A Latin dissertation at the University of Duisburg
University of Duisburg
-History:Its origins date back to the 1555 decision to create a university for the unified duchies at the Lower Rhine that were later to be merged into Prussia. After the foundation of an academic college in 1559, a university was founded in 1655 by Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, the...
in 1711, on the nature of God, and at least nominally against Benedictus de Spinoza and Frederik van Leenhof, raised some questions about his orthodoxy. In 1717 he was a candidate for a chair at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, and was opposed by the theologian Antonius Driessen. Once he was given the chair, Wittichius found that Driessen continued to campaign against him, using an unauthorized Dutch translation of his Duisburg dissertation (anonymous but from the circle of Ruardus Andala); and his links to de Volder. Taco Hajo van den Honert of the University of Leiden moved in to defend Wittichius, and in the end he accepted a chair at Leiden instead. Leiden city and university now resisted outside pressure from Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
in particular. Johann Franz Buddeus
Johann Franz Buddeus
Johann Franz Buddeus or Budde , German Lutheran theologian and philosopher; born at Anklam, Swedish Pomerania, where his father was pastor, 25 June 1667; died at Gotha 19 November 1729.-Life:...
intervened, getting the Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
theology faculty to assert that the views of Wittichius were close to those of Spinoza and Abraham Joannes Cuffeler. Wittichius was comprehensively attacked in a pamphlet by Jacobus Leydekker in 1719. His position became a matter of wide discussion in the United Provinces
United Provinces
United Provinces may refer to:* United Provinces, another name for the Dutch Republic , now The Netherlands* United Provinces of Agra and Oudh , a former province of British India; now Uttar Pradesh...
; he defended himself by analogy with Johannes Bredenburg
Johannes Bredenburg
Johannes Bredenburg was a Rotterdam wine merchant and weaver who was a member of the Collegiants. The philosopher Spinoza had joined the Collegiants and his ideas became the source of a division in the membership so that they broke into two parties. The Spinozist party was led by Bredenburg and...
, and arguing that Cartesianism was effective against Spinozism.
Wittichius went on in combative fashion in his inaugural oration, with praise for Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
and Galileo, blame for the approach in philosophy of Gisbertus Voetius
Gisbertus Voetius
Gisbertus Voetius was a Dutch Calvinist theologian.-Life:...
, employing Cartesian terminology, and making an allusion to Spinoza's Ethics
Ethics (book)
Ethics is a philosophical book written by Benedict de Spinoza. It was written in Latin. Although it was published posthumously in 1677, it is his most famous work, and is considered his magnum opus....
. He continued to attack the views of Driessen and the Roëll family.