Today we will talk about such a famous philosopher, politician and public figure as Adam Weishaupt. What is this man famous for? What is known about his life? What is the essence of the philosophy of Adam Weishaupt? The answer to these and other questions can be found in our material.
Philosopher Adam Weishaupt - biography and photo
Weishaupt was born on February 6, 1748 in the German town of Ingolstadt. A boy was born in the family of a law professor. In his youth he was a student of the local gymnasium. At the age of 7, Adam Weishaupt lost his father. After the sudden death of the only breadwinner, the guy fell into the care of his stepfather, Baron Ixtaff. It was he who introduced the young man to the works of the great philosophers that filled his personal library.
After reaching adulthood, Adam Weishaupt was already distinguished by outstanding encyclopedic knowledge, which favorably distinguished him from his peers. Thanks to his education, the guy managed to enter the University of Ingolstadt without any problems. Here our hero was engaged in the comprehension of philosophy, studied jurisprudence,political and social sciences. In 1768, after graduating from an educational institution, Adam Weishaupt, whose biography is considered in our material, was awarded a doctorate in philosophy. A few years later, he acquires the title of professor of law.
Creation of the Order of the Illuminati
In the spring of 1776, the philosopher Adam Weishaupt, whose photo can be seen in our article, decided to create and organize his own secret society. The official goal was to combat ignorance and the influence of religious beliefs on the formation of society. Initially, the Illuminati called themselves members of the Union of Cultivators.
Parallel to the founding of the order, the philosopher Adam Weishaupt began to visit the Masonic lodge in the city of Munich. Later, influential members of the organization joined the ranks of the Illuminati. Their authority, we alth and power allowed the newly formed secret society led by Weishaupt to gain serious influence in numerous European countries.
The Illuminati believed that the human essence is not so vicious. According to the members of the organization, the construction of thinking on ancient, outdated doctrines spoils people. Nevertheless, even for a submissive and religious person, salvation is always possible through a critical assessment of everything that exists, maintaining a sober mind, and also mastering scientific knowledge. In other words, the only way the Illuminati recognized was the pursuit of enlightenment.
Community goals
Regardinggoals of the Illuminati order, they were formed by Weishaupt quite categorically:
- Cessation of ethnic hatred, conflicts on racial, cultural, ideological, religious grounds.
- Complete eradication of the monarchical system, elimination of other forms of state power aimed at enslaving and oppressing people.
- Destruction of property that is in the sole possession of the representatives of the ruling elite.
What was the philosophy of the Illuminati based on
Candidates for the organization were convinced that there was no truth. The world is unchanging because of the existence of an unjust social order, where powerful people push around the unenlightened. Despite this, the use of violent methods to change the existing provisions in society is unacceptable. Such tactics are flawed and inevitably lead to the triumph of chaos.
The true Illuminati fight to bring wisdom to the suffering and oppressed. Their main goal is the multiplication of faithful defenders of the ideas of complete freedom from any prejudice, the silent unification of people with all their heart and soul.
Degrees of initiation
There were special requirements for candidates to join the Illuminati order. Weishaupt and his followers developed special degrees that determined the status of individual members in the organization:
- Preparatory notebook - the initial degree of initiation. Young people aged 16 to 25 were selected here, who wanted to join the order and fullyshared the views of his supporters. First of all, information was secretly collected about new candidates for the community. Loyal agents of the Illuminati obtained information about the strengths and weaknesses of such people, inclinations and preferences. Also, the family of potential novices, their close friends and enemies were taken into account. Reports on each candidate for the order were provided to the head of the Illuminati weekly.
- Acolyte - before joining the secret society, young people who fell under this degree of initiation had to pass numerous tests. In everyday life, members of the secret order simulated situations that made it possible to test the novices for devotion and ascertain the strengths of their personality.
- Minerval is a member of the Order, who is obliged to swear allegiance to the organization, to renounce actions that carry the danger of destroying the Illuminati.
- Junior Illuminati - an initiation degree dedicated to learning the skill of influencing the minds of people. Minervals became a kind of experimental subjects here.
- The Elder Illuminati is a person faithful to the traditions of the order, able to find its faithful followers and promote the teachings of the community to the masses.
- A priest is a member of the organization who was clearly aware of the need to create a new social order, where all people are a single family.
- The magician is a representative of the hierarchical top of the order, which has leverage on the system of power in the state, has the ability to change legislation in order to protect the rights of the oppressed, uneducated andthe poor.
Liquidation of the order
By 1780, the secret society numbered several thousand followers. The organization consisted mainly of noble persons. Soon ideological strife arose in the order, initiated by one of the most influential people in Germany, Baron von Knigge. He was supported by the large landowner Karl Theodor. It was in the territories belonging to him that the main communities of the Illuminati were concentrated. The introduced members of the community were the first to decide to leave its ranks and began to persecute the rest of the apologists of the order.
In 1784, Baron von Knigge turned to the Bavarian government with a proposal to ban the activities of the Illuminati. Ultimately, the order was dissolved, and its creator and ideological leader, Adam Weishaupt, had to go on the run. The philosopher went to the city of Regensburg, which did not fall under Bavarian jurisdiction. Here he found support in the person of a we althy, influential man named Ernst of Altenburg, who bore the title of Duke of Gotha. The latter not only provided the former leader of the Illuminati with asylum in his own domain, but also bestowed a high rank and provided material support. It was in the estate of the Duke of Altenburg that the philosopher wrote most of his literary works.
Over time, the order gradually revived its activities. But now the selection criteria for a secret organization have become more stringent. Many myths have arisen around the activities of the community. The Illuminati began to attribute the idea of Masonicconspiracy of universal proportions, as well as the practice of all kinds of magical and mystical rituals.
As for the other Illuminati, who also suffered persecution after the order was officially banned by the Bavarian government, the former "brothers" devoted their lives to cultural, scientific and social initiatives. Many members of the secret organization founded their own political and philosophical movements, among which it is worth noting such teachings as socialism, anarchism, Marxism, laborism.
Adam Weishaupt – books
The great philosopher and founder of the secret society of the Illuminati is the author of several literary works:
- The Illuminati.
- Hypersex.
- The Illuminati's Six Dimensional Universe.
- The Illuminati Paradigm Shift.
- The Illuminati Phalanx.
- The Crystal Spheres of the Illuminati.
- The Illuminati Manifesto.
In closing
As you can see, Adam Weishaupt is the founder of a whole movement that supported the idea of the triumph of scientific knowledge over stupidity, state oppression and the dominance of the church. Members of the order to this day are fighting for the establishment of equality between people on intellectual, social, gender, ethnic, and other grounds.
Weishaupt passed away in 1830. On his tombstone is engraved the inscription: "Here rests in peace a respected husband, an outstanding man with a learned mind and the first citizen of freedom."
