Johann David Michaelis
Johann David Michaelis ( born February 27, 1717 Hall, † August 22, 1791 in Göttingen ) was a German theologian and orientalist.
Life
Johann David Michaelis - son of the theologian and orientalist Christian Benedict Michaelis - was taught by private tutors and attended from 1729 the School of the Francke Foundations, which had a pietistic orientation. His mother was the Dorothea Hedwig Michaelis ( 1692-1736 ).
From 1733 Michael studied at the University of Halle, where he first heard medical, mathematical and historical lectures, and then to address the Oriental languages and theology. In addition to his father Siegmund Jakob Baumgarten was one of his teachers.
1739 he received his doctorate with a thesis on the age of the Hebrew vowel signs and lectured. Subsequently he traveled in 1741 to study on the Netherlands to England. On his return to Halle, he taught again at the university. In 1745 he was appointed a lecturer at the University of Göttingen, was the following year associate and full professor in 1750. For the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen he designed at its founding in 1751 by Albrecht von Haller, the basic laws and initiated only as a secretary, then as director for some time their transactions.
Its Especially on Montesquieu ajar Mosaic Law ( see below) and its empirical interest in the rationality of Moses ascribed laws for Pastoral Peoples belongs to the early testimonies religion sociological thought in Germany.
Arabia travel
In 1753 he took the initiative to the project to verify the veracity of the biblical narratives as part of a research trip to the Middle East (see also Arab Travel ( Carsten Niebuhr) ). To this end he invited scientists from all over Europe to submit a paper appropriate questions and designed a questionnaire. The project of Arabia trip came only slowly. It was not until 1761 took an equipped by the Danish King Frederick V research group at the journey to investigate the approximately 100 submitted questions. Among the participants was one among others Peter Forsskål. 1767 From this trip returned as the only survivor of the cartographer Carsten Niebuhr, whose 1774 published description of Arabia answered many of the discontinued by Michaelis questions.
Michaelis House
In 1764, Michael earned the well-known as the " London Tavern " guest house, directly opposite the university and college building at the University of Göttingen. Here he lived with his family and also held his lectures. A side wing was rented to students. The building was renamed in the 20th century in Michael's house and served until 2006 as an institute of the University buildings, primarily for last Orientalist subjects.
Family
Johann David Michaelis was married twice. The two marriages were from ten children. His son Christian Friedrich Michaelis (1754-1818) later became professor of medicine in Marburg. The daughter Caroline Schlegel - Schelling was a writer and first marriage with Johann Franz Wilhelm Böhmer, in second marriage with August Wilhelm Schlegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling finally.
Awards
The Royal Society and the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres Michaelis appointed to their member, the emperor to the council, and even foreign princes showered him with honors. In 1775 he became a Knight of the North Star Order.
Works (selection)
- Curae in versionem Syriacam actuum apostolicorum, Göttingen 1755
- Answering the question of the influence of the opinions expressed in the language and the language in the opinions; which has to obtained from the Royal Academy of Sciences for the year 1759, set price, Berlin 1760 French edition: De l' influence the opinions sur le langage et du langage sur les opinions, Bremen 1762
- Reprint Stuttgart -Bad Cannstatt: Frommann Holzboog 1974.
- Reprint of the ed Frankfurt and Leipzig 1768-1776: Aalen, Scientia ET 19XX.
- Microfiche edition, Freiburg University Library 1999