Bahrdt' s Psychological Portrait of the Dogmatic Priest in Das Religions-Edikt and Herr Pastor Rindvigius

Authors

Timothy Wright, Brigham Young Univeristy

Keywords

Enlightenment, Carl Friedrich Bahrdt, satire, Das Religions-Edikt, Herr Pastor Rindvigius

Abstract

'What is enlightenment?' This question, posed to German reading audiences in the autumn of 1783 by the journal Berlinische Monatsschrift, ignited a debate that lasted a decade. While the famous answer, given by the philosopher Immanuel Kant, emphasized enlightenment as, above all else, self-emancipation, others stressed the role of external factors-education and institutions-in promoting the individual's ability to think for himself. Through correct upbringing, education, and laws, the individual and society can be brought to enlightenment, so the thinking went. This latter model accented the importance of human development (Bildung) and institutional reform as a means to facilitate this process. Human nature, in this model, is determined by environment. When the right conditions prevail, enlightenment is inevitable rather than contingent on the free decision of the individual.

Recommended Citation

Wright, Timothy (2010) "Bahrdt' s Psychological Portrait of the Dogmatic Priest in Das Religions-Edikt and Herr Pastor Rindvigius," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 39: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol39/iss1/12