Étienne de Courcelles
Encyclopedia
Étienne de Courcelles (Geneva
2 May 1586-Amsterdam
20 May 1659) was an Arminian Greek scholar and translator.
He studied from 1609 in Zürich
, and after was French Protestant minister of Amiens
, translator of Grotius, and successor of Simon Episcopius
at the Remonstrant seminary in Amsterdam. He is credited with introducing Cartesianism
into Dutch Arminian circles. Courcelles was a personal friend of Descartes, and translated the Discours de la méthode and Les méteores into Latin, but he was only superficially influenced by Descartes.
The Arminians strove whenever they could to reconcile the philosophical systems of their day. This resulted in an eclectic philosophy consisting mainly of elements of moderate Cartesianism and Lockean empiricism.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
2 May 1586-Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
20 May 1659) was an Arminian Greek scholar and translator.
He studied from 1609 in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, and after was French Protestant minister of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, translator of Grotius, and successor of Simon Episcopius
Simon Episcopius
Simon Episcopius was a Dutch theologian and Remonstrant who played a significant role at the Synod of Dort in 1618...
at the Remonstrant seminary in Amsterdam. He is credited with introducing Cartesianism
Cartesianism
Cartesian means of or relating to the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes—from his name—Rene Des-Cartes. It may refer to:*Cartesian anxiety*Cartesian circle*Cartesian dualism...
into Dutch Arminian circles. Courcelles was a personal friend of Descartes, and translated the Discours de la méthode and Les méteores into Latin, but he was only superficially influenced by Descartes.
Works
- Novum Testamentum (Greek New Testament) 1658, 909 pages.
- Specimina philosophiae (1644) - Latin translations of Descartes' Discours de la méthode and Les méteores
The Arminians strove whenever they could to reconcile the philosophical systems of their day. This resulted in an eclectic philosophy consisting mainly of elements of moderate Cartesianism and Lockean empiricism.