Diabolic Philosophy: Friedrich Leubnitz’s Dean’s Address of 1646
Abstract
The paper explores the philosophical and theological opinions of Friedrich Leubnitz (1597-1652), Leibniz’s father and the Dean of Philosophy in Leipzig, by examining an address he delivered in the magister ordination ceremony of 1646. The lecture depicts a perpetual conflict between Lucifer, who is also Apollo, the god of knowledge, and Christian philosophers. Among other features, the lecture presents Eve as a serpent and Christian philosophy as an occupation to avoid. Accordingly, Friedrich was probably more heterodox than usually portrayed, a style of thinking that might have influenced his son.
Keywords
Leibniz | Friedrich Leubnitz | Jacob Thomasius | Leipzig University | theology | mysticism | Lucifer | Apollo | Leibniz | Friedrich Leubnitz | Jakob Thomasius | Université de Leipzig | théologie | mysticisme | Lucifer | Apollon | Leibniz | Friedrich Leubnitz | Jakob Thomasius | Universität Leipzig | Theologie | Mystizismus | Luzifer | Apollo