Jacob Friedrich von Abel
Encyclopedia
Jacob Friedrich von Abel (9 May 1751 – 7 July 1829) was a German
philosopher. His main interest was the human soul
and in trying to find a proof for its immortality
.
Born in Vaihingen an der Enz, von Abel studied philology, philosophy and theology on the lower seminaries
in Denkendorf
and Maulbronn
and on the higher seminary in Tübingen
. He graduated in 1770 and was appointed professor of philosophy at the Militär-Pflanzschule at the Solitude Palace which moved later to Stuttgart
. While there, he was one of Schiller's teachers and a good friend (becoming the dedicatee of his second play, Fiesco
).
In 1790 he was appointed professor of philosophy and headmaster of the Contubernium in Tübingen
, in 1792 pedagogiarch of the Latin Schulen ob der Staig. In 1811 he became prelate
, general superintendent in Oehringen and member of the executive authority of the Evangelic Church in Württemberg
. In 1823 von Abel became general superintendent in Urach and Reutlingen
, and lived in Stuttgart
. He died on a leisure excursion in Schorndorf
.
Jacob Friedrich von Abel was also a member of the Illuminatenorden, known as Pythagoras Abderites.
The latter contains in its second volume a story on which Schiller's Verbrecher aus Infamie, eine wahre Geschichte is based.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
philosopher. His main interest was the human soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
and in trying to find a proof for its immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
.
Born in Vaihingen an der Enz, von Abel studied philology, philosophy and theology on the lower seminaries
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Denkendorf
Denkendorf
Denkendorf may refer to two municipalities in Germany:*Denkendorf, Baden-Württemberg*Denkendorf, Bavaria...
and Maulbronn
Maulbronn
Maulbronn is a city in the district of Enz in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.-History:Founded in 1838, it emerged from a settlement, built around a monastery, which belonged to the Neckar Community in the Kingdom of Württemberg. In 1886, Maulbronn officially became a German town and was an...
and on the higher seminary in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. He graduated in 1770 and was appointed professor of philosophy at the Militär-Pflanzschule at the Solitude Palace which moved later to Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. While there, he was one of Schiller's teachers and a good friend (becoming the dedicatee of his second play, Fiesco
Fiesco (play)
Fiesco is the second full length drama written by the German playwright Friedrich Schiller. It is a republican tragedy based on the historical conspiracy of Giovanni Luigi Fieschi against Andrea Doria in Genoa in 1547...
).
In 1790 he was appointed professor of philosophy and headmaster of the Contubernium in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, in 1792 pedagogiarch of the Latin Schulen ob der Staig. In 1811 he became prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, general superintendent in Oehringen and member of the executive authority of the Evangelic Church in Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. In 1823 von Abel became general superintendent in Urach and Reutlingen
Reutlingen
Reutlingen is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the eponymous district of Reutlingen. As of April 2008, it has a population of 109,828....
, and lived in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. He died on a leisure excursion in Schorndorf
Schorndorf
Schorndorf is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located c. 26 km east of Stuttgart. Its station is a the terminus of line S2 of the Stuttgart S-Bahn....
.
Jacob Friedrich von Abel was also a member of the Illuminatenorden, known as Pythagoras Abderites.
Publications
- Einleitung in die Seelenlehre (1786)
- Ausführliche Darstellung des Grundes unserez Glaubens an Unsterblichkeit (1826)
- Sammlung und Erklärung merkwürdiger Erscheinungen aus dem menschlichen Leben (1784-1790, 3 volumes)
The latter contains in its second volume a story on which Schiller's Verbrecher aus Infamie, eine wahre Geschichte is based.
Sources
- Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie — online version