John Adolphus Etzler

John Adolphus Etzler (actually Johann Adolphus Etzler; * 1791 in Mühlhausen / Thuringia, † 1846 ) was a German -American technical Utopian. Together with John August Roebling, he emigrated in 1831 to Pittsburgh.

Life

In 1833 he published his most famous work, a pamphlet entitled The Paradise within the Reach of all Men ( German in 1981 under the title Paradise, Reutlingen: Black root -Verlag). It contained detailed, visionary plans for the use of wind, water and sun for the benefit of mankind.

Influenced by Hegel and the utopian socialists, he believed that the technology of his time was sufficient to create within a few years on earth a paradise where there was enough for everyone. At times, he managed to organize enough financial support to work on the realization of his vision. In particular, his Hoffunungen rested on a revolution in agriculture with the help of the " Satellite ", a versatile cultivation tool, which he patented. It was driven by cables, the wind energy transferred from a stationary source. The device proved to be impractical, and its partial poorly implemented plans for the colonization of the American tropics ( in what is now Venezuela) failed. Here people were killed, and blame were not missing. Etzler was devastated and disappeared from public life. Nevertheless, his idea of ​​a world lives on which is exempt by machines of heavy physical work.

Aftereffect

Henry David Thoreau published in 1843 a review of Etzlers paradise under the title Paradise (to be ) Regained .. The biologist and physician Jacob Bigelow was an ardent supporter Etzlers and was strongly influenced by the ideas of Etzlers book paradise.

Works

In German

  • The paradise for everyone accessible only by forces of nature and the simplest machines. After the second English edition. Ulm: army Brandt and Thämel, 1844 ( full text at HathiTrust ). New edition and the Baptist Paradise. Reutlingen: Black root -Verlag, 1981, 1st edition ISBN 3922473032

In English

  • The Paradise within the Reach of all Men, without Labor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery: An Address to all intelligent men, in two parts (1833 ) ( limited preview on Google Book Search )
  • Machinery ( 1833)
  • The New World or Mechanical System (1841 )
  • Description of the Naval Automaton, Invented by JA Etzler (1841? 2?)
  • Dialogue on Etzler 's Paradise: Between Messrs. Clear, Flat, Dunce, and Grudge (1842 )
  • Emigration to the Tropical World, for the amelioration of All Classes of People of All Nations (1844 )
  • Two Visions of J. A. Etzler (1844 )

Patents

  • Mode of Propelling Locomotives by Stationary Power
  • Navigating and Propelling Vessels by the Action of the Wind and Waves
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