Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey

Jean Henri Samuel Formey ( Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey; born May 31, in 1711 in Berlin, † March 8, 1797 ibid ) was a theologian, philosopher and historian, staff at the " Encyclopédie " of Diderot and d' Alembert, and for many years a leading member of Berlin Academy of Sciences.

Life

Formey came from a family of Huguenots who came as refugees from Champagne to Berlin. From 1720 to 1727 he was a student at Collège Français in Berlin, as Primus of the senior year, he held the Latin words for the birthday of Prussian king. After completing a two-year theology student, he became a preacher of the French Reformed congregation Brandenburg and got a job at the French Church of Berlin- Friedrichstadt. His interest in philosophy and humanism led him in 1737 to apply for a position at the College Francais. After being there for two years taught rhetoric, had but want to preserve a half pastorate, he was appointed as successor to Maturin Veyssière de La Croze in 1739 appointed professor of philosophy - the most important and most prestigious Chair of the school - and asked the king about him from its obligations to deliver as a preacher. During the next 50 years he gave at the Collège classes in philosophy and was especially honored for 1789.

Numerous scientific studies led to Formey was added in 1744 to the Berlin Academy of Sciences and appointed already in the following year to the historians. Since 1746 he was assistant to the " Secretary -resistant " ( secretarius perpetuus ) of the Academy, since 1748, his successor. From 1788 to 1797 he led the philosophical department of the Academy. Together with other members, he successfully to ensure that the publications of the Academy now, instead of previously performed in French in Latin. Generally Formey had a lifetime striving to anchor the spirit and language of the Huguenots in Berlin. He himself learned German imperfectly - not uncommon for well-off members of the French colony in Berlin in the 18th century - his writings and letters he wrote exclusively in French. For his scientific activities, he learned numerous honors, was a member of several international companies and was a member of the Academies of Sciences of St. Petersburg and London.

Formey lived in the Behr street in Berlin's Friedrichstadt and was married twice.

His publications

Between 1746 and 1759 the magazine " Nouvelle Bibliothèque Germanique " which Formey appeared initially published alone but together with other Academy members, from 1750. The publication contains information on the state of the humanities and natural sciences in Europe and took into account particularly the work of the various national academies. As an employee or editor Formey was involved in other journals with international Objective: "Journal littéraire d' Allemagne ", " Bibliothèque critique" and " Annales typographique germaniques ". In the writings of the Academy, there are 140 texts from him, including more than fifty obituaries for deceased members - useful source material for the history of science.

Exceedingly numerous were his writings on philosophical, historical, and theological issues. He is quoted as saying: " When I read a book, I think about how I can make on the same subject at another time gelegner ". The result was a complete work of about 600 titles. One focus of his writing activity lay in the study of the philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Christian Wolff. 1746 published the textbook " Elementa Philosophiae Wolffianae " 1751-1756 came the six volumes of philosophical novel " La belle Wolffienne " out with the Formey The intention behind the views of Wolff 's display easy to understand. The literary form of the novel leaves something to be desired, but it is certain that this work has contributed significantly to making known the ideas of Wolff 's in France.

Formey took a philosophy of religion ' was based on the idea Leibniz, according to which the true religion arises when religion and reason are brought into exact match. So Formey was convinced by a natural religion in which beliefs could be proved only by the application of reason and the existence of God or the immortality of the soul. With the French Enlightenment thinkers such as Denis Diderot and Jean -Jacques Rousseau, who represented a more atheistic approach, he sat critical and polemical apart, for example, in the writings of " La philosophie chretien " (1750-1756, four volumes), " Anti- Emile "and" Emile chretien " (1763 bzw.1764, both against the Bildungsroman " directed Émile " of Rousseau ).

Apparently pursued Formey before the French encyclopedist the idea to publish a summary of the knowledge of his time, but did not realize this plan. However, the material he had collected for it, he processed to the 81 articles that were taken on approximately 1800 pages of text in the work of Diderot and d' Alembert, regardless of all the fundamental differences.

Correspondence

Formey left a very extensive active and passive correspondence. The estimates vary between 17,000 and - probably overestimated - of 40,000 pieces. The correspondence is now fragmented and stored in four major collections, two each in Berlin and Krakow. As part of a research project at the University of Potsdam and the entire correspondence evaluated intensively and systematically and thereby placed in the context of the French-influenced history of ideas in Brandenburg- Prussia. He corresponded with Francesco Algarotti, as the went back to Italy.

Importance

The importance Formeys judged differently. For some he is considered to be right for a long time forgotten prolific writer whose almost incredible productivity already an indication should be alone for its superficiality as a scientist. Fame and reputation he had acquired only by that he had represented by its prominent position in the Academy this prestigious institution in countless, long -term contacts to the outside.

Others are viewing in this intense action, in its many publications and personal letters its essential merit. For the correspondence of literary figures and scholars, the direct exchange of views and information were magazines and books next to another important communication level at which the Enlightenment in Europe was brought forward. Mostly Formey is therefore now judged as a man who has contributed through his work on the limits of his native country as well to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment and to make Berlin an important location for the intellectual discussions of the 18th century.

Works (selection)

• Recueil des pièces sur les affaires de l' élection du roi de Pologne, 1732
• Le Fidele fortifié par la grâce, ou Sermon sur Phil, 13, Berlin, 1736,
• Articles of pacta contenta d' Auguste, you traduit latin, 1736
• Commerce entre deux amis de lettres, 1738,
• Ducatiana ou Remarques de Le Duchat, sur divers sujets d' histoire et de littérature, Amsterdam, P. Humbert, 1738
• Mercure et Minerve, ou nouvelles politiques et Choix of littéraires les plus interesting pour Tannée 1738, Berlin, 1738
• Sermons de Reinbeck, traduit de l' anglais, Berlin, 1738
• Correspondance entre deux amis sur la succession de Juliers et de Bergues, Berlin, 1738
• Sermons sur divers textes de l' écriture sainte, Berlin, 1739
• Journal de Berlin ou nouvelles politiques et littéraires, Berlin, 1740
• Mémoires pour servir à l' histoire et au droit public de Pologne, you traduit latin de Lengnich, La Haye, 1741
• La Belle Wolfienne, ou abrégé de la philosophie wolfienne, La Haye, 1741-53, 6 vol.
• Les Oeuvres de François Villon, avec les notes de Clément Marot, Eusèbe de Laurière, Le Duchat et Formey, published by Prosper Marchand, La Haye, 1742
• L' Anti -Saint -Pierre, Berlin, 1741
• Sermon sur la paix, Berlin, 1742
• Réflexions philosophiques sur l' âme de l' immortalité raisonnable, traduit de l' anglais de Reinbeck, Amst., 1744
• La Balance de l'Europe from Latin translated by; Berlin et Göttingen, 1744
• Panégyrique du roy, Berlin, 1745
• Nouvelle bibliothèque germanique, Amsterdam, 1746-60
• Sermon sur les gratuites de l' Éternel, Berlin, 1746
• Projet d'un établissement en faveur of pauvres, Berlin, 1746
• Elementa Philosophiæ seu medulla Wolfiana, Berlin, 1746
• Conseils pour former une bibliothèque nombreuse peu, mais choisie, Berlin, 1746
• Bibliothèque critique, ou Mémoires pour servir à l' histoire littéraire ancienne et moderne, Berlin, Formery, 1746
• Essai sur la nécessité de la Révélation, Berlin, 1747
• La Logique of vraisemblances, Frankfurt, 1747
• Recherches sur les éléments de la matière, Berlin, 1747
• Sermon pour la dédicace de cette école, Berlin, 1747
• Relations de ladite école, Berlin, 1748-56
• Traité des dieux et du monde, du grec de Salluste le Philosophe traduit, avec the reflection philosophiques et critiques, Berlin, 1748.
• M. le comte de Epitre à Manteuffel, 1748
• Exposure abrégée you plan du roi pour la Réformation de la justice, Berlin, 1748
• Epistola ad eminent. cardinal. Quirinum, Berolini, 1749
• Pensées Pensées raisonnables opposées aux philosophiques, avec un essai de critique sur le livre des Moeurs, Berlin, Amsterdam, 1749
• Dictionnaire de Ménage étymologique, Paris et gene. , 1750
• Lettre de M. Gervaise Holme à l' auteur de la Lettre sur les aveugles, Cambridge [ Berlin], 1750
• Vindiciœ Reformatorum, Berol. , 1750
• Histoire de l' Académie des Sciences de Berlin, 1750
• Le Système du vrai bonheur, Berlin, Paris et Genève, 1750 and 1751
• Le Philosophe chrétien, Leyde et Lausanne, 1750-56
• L' Abeille you Parnassus, Berlin, 1750-54
• Bibliothèque impartiale, Leyde, 1750-58
• Essai sur la perfection, Utrecht, Paris, 1751,
• Dissertation sur les raisons d' établir et d' abroger les Loix, à laquelle on a joint l' Examen de l' usure suivant les principes du droit naturel, Paris, Utrecht, 1751
• La Théorie de la fortune, trad de l' anglais de Kaestner, Berlin, 1751
• Lettres sur la prédication, Berlin, 1753
• Conseils d'un homme de qualité à sa fille, traduit de l' anglais, Berlin, 1753
• Mélanges philosophiques, Leyde, 1754, 2 vol. in - 12; traduit en anglais, London, 1759
• Catalogue raisonné de la librairie d' Etienne de Bourdeaux, Berlin, 1754-72
• La Comtesse suédoise, traduit de l' anglais de Gellert, Berlin, 1754
• Abrégé d' histoire universal par La Croze, revu, Continue et de quelques notes enrichi, Gotha, 1754
• Examination Philosophique de la liaison réelle qu'il ya entre les sciences et les mœurs, Avignon, 1755
• Sermons prononcés en quelques circonstances extraordinaires, Berlin, 1755
• La Vie de M. Jean -Philippe Baratier, Frankfurt / Leipzig 1755
• Lettre à M. Maty, au sujet du Mémoire de M. Eller sur l' usage du cuivre, 1756
• Catéchisme raisonné, trad de l' angl. , Avec un Discours préliminaire, Halle, 1736
• Essai sur le beau ( par le P. André ), avec un Discours et préliminaire of Réflexions sur le goût, 1756
• Le Triomphe de l' évidence, Berlin, 1756
• Sermon à l' occasion de la victoire de Prague, 1757
• Traité des tropes, nouv. édit. , Leipzig, 1757
• Eloges of académiciens de Berlin et de divers autres savans, Paris et Berlin, 1757
• Abrégé du droit de la nature et des gens, Amsterdam, 1758
• Sermon à l' occasion de la mort de SAR le prince de Prusse, Paris et Berlin, 1758.
• Consolations pour les personnes valétudinaires, Berlin, 1758
• Discours sur le principe de la véritable grandeur d' âme, Berlin, 1758
• Philosophiques Essais sur l' humain par entendement Hume, traduit en français, par Merian, avec une Préface et des notes par Formey, Amsterdam, 1758
• Les preuves de l' existence de Dieu ramenées aux notions communes, 1758
• Le Philosophe payen ou Pensées de Pline avec un commentaire littéraire et morale, Leyde, 1759
• Principes des Belles lettres élémentaires, Berlin, 1759
• Les Avantages de la viellesse, Berlin, 1759
• Lettres sur l' état ​​présent des sciences et des mœurs, Berlin, 1759-60,
• Monument à la mémoire de la fille la plus chérie, 1759.
• De la mort, Berlin, 1759
• Abrégé de l' histoire de la philosophie, Amsterdam, 1760
• Eloges of Maréchaux de Schwerin et de Keilh, et de M. de square, Berlin, 1760
• Éloge de Maupertuis, Berlin, 1760, in-8 °.
• Réflexions sur l' éducation et en particulier sur celle des jeunes demoiselles, Berlin, 1761
• Choix de Mémoires et de l' histoire de l' abrégé Académie de Berlin, Berlin, Haude, 1761
• Éloge d' Eller, Berlin, 1762
• Sermons sur la prophétie de Jonas, Berlin, 1762
• Réflexions sur la liberté, trad de l' anglais de Reinhard, Berlin, 1762
• L' Esprit de Julie, 1762
• Anti -Émile, Berlin, 1762
• Abrégé de l' histoire ecclésiastique, Amsterdam, 1763
• Eloges of comtes de Podevils et de Chtter, de MM Jacobi, Sprssgel, BECMAN et Humbert, Berlin, 1763
• L' Émile chrétien, Amsterdam, 1764
• Défense de la religion et de la législation pour servir de suite à l' anti -Émile, Berlin, 1764
• Diversités historiques, you traduit grec d' Elien et enrichies de remarques, Berlin, 1764
• Abrégé de toutes les sciences à l' usage de six ans à enfans of douze, Potsdam, 1764-787
• Discours prononcés dans l' Académie de Berlin à la réception des princes de Brunsvic, 1764,
• Introduction générale aux sciences, Amsterdam, 1764
• Discours de philosophiques Maxime de Tyr, you traduit grec, Leyde, in 1764. In - 12th
• Discours pour servir de suite moraux Philosophe au chrétien, Berlin, 1764-65
• Principes de morale appliqués aux Determinations de la volonté, Leyde, 1765
• Discours de M. Gellert sur ​​la morale, Berlin, 1766, in-8 °.
• Tableau du bonheur domestique, suivi de quelques discours sur les vérités interesting de la religion et de la morale, Leyde, 1766
• Discourse on paix, Leyde, 1767th
• Éloge de Mme Gottsched suivi du Triomphe de la philosophie par la même, Berlin, 1767
• Histoire des Protestants, trad de l' anglais de Stockhausen, Halle, 1767
• Sermon à l' occasion de la mort du prince de Prusse, Berlin, 1767
• Traité d' éducation morale sur cette question: Comment on doit l'esprit et le coeur gouverner d'un enfant pour le rendre heureux et utile, Berlin, 1767
• Magasin des sciences et des beaux -arts à l' usage of adolescens, Amsterdam, 1768
• Consolations raisonnables et religieuses, Yverdon, 1768
• Questions and Answers psychologiques, Berlin, 1769
• Abrégé of Physics, Berlin, 1770-72
• Sermons sur divers textes, Leyde, 1772
• Journal de Pierre- le -Grand, traduit du russe, revu et publ. par Formey, 1773
• Éloge de Meckel, Berlin, 1774
• Discours au grand -duc de Russie, Berlin, 1776
• Questions and Answers morale de pratique, Potsd. , 1778
• Éloge d' Uden, Berlin, 1783
• Discours sur le jubilé, Berlin
• Éloge de Sark, Berlin, 1786
• Encyclopaedia of enfans, Genève, 1784
• Réponses aux discours of académiciens reçus dans le cours des quatre mois de l' année 1780 derniers, Berlin, 1787
• Souvenirs d' un citoyen, Berlin, 1789