Hermann Samuel Reimarus facts for kids
Hermann Samuel Reimarus (born December 22, 1694, in Hamburg – died March 1, 1768, in Hamburg) was an important German philosopher and writer. He lived during a time called the Enlightenment. This was a period when people started to think more about reason and science.
Reimarus is known for his ideas about Deism. This idea suggests that people can understand God and good behavior by studying nature and their own thoughts. He believed this way of thinking meant people didn't need religions based on special messages or miracles. He also questioned the idea that Christianity started from supernatural events. Reimarus was one of the first important thinkers to study the historical Jesus. He believed Jesus was a human Jewish prophet, and that his followers later created Christianity as a new religion.
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About Hermann Samuel Reimarus
Early Life and Education
Hermann Samuel Reimarus was born in Hamburg, Germany. His father and a scholar named J. A. Fabricius taught him at home. Later, he attended the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums, a well-known school.
He studied many subjects at the University of Jena. These included theology (the study of religion), old languages, and philosophy. In 1716, he became a private teacher at the University of Wittenberg. He also traveled to the Netherlands and England in 1720 and 1721.
Teaching Career and Interests
In 1723, Reimarus became the head of a high school in Wismar. Then, in 1727, he became a professor in his hometown of Hamburg. He taught Hebrew and other languages from the Middle East. He stayed in this job until he passed away, even though he was offered better-paying positions elsewhere.
Reimarus had a lot of free time because his teaching duties were not too demanding. He used this time to study many different subjects. These included philology (the study of language), mathematics, philosophy, history, political economy (how countries manage money), science, and natural history. He collected many items for his studies.
Family and Legacy
Reimarus's home in Hamburg was a center for smart and creative people. He helped start some learned and artistic groups in the city. These groups still meet today at the Haus der patriotischen Gesellschaft.
He had seven children, but only three lived longer than him. One of his children was a famous doctor named Johann Albert Heinrich Reimarus. He also had two daughters, including Elise Reimarus, who was a friend and letter-writer to the famous writer Lessing. Hermann Samuel Reimarus died on March 1, 1768.
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In Spanish: Hermann Samuel Reimarus para niños
- Karl Friedrich Bahrdt – another thinker who studied religion (1741–1792)
- Heinrich Paulus – another thinker who studied religion (1761–1851)
