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KNOBLAUCH, Carl [Karl] von (1756-1794)
Politisch-philosophische Gespräche. Erster Theil [all published].
Berlin, in der Vossischen Buchhandlung 1792.
Small 8vo. 224p. Uncut, wide-margined copy in old worn grey wrappers.
€ 950

First separate edition, very rare. Knoblauch was a lawyer and philosopher with strong rationalist and materialist views, inspired by Spinoza and the French materialist writers. He studied law and philosophy in Giessen and Göttingen and entered the service of the House of Nassau-Dillenburg. Knoblauch was the author of several, mostly anonymously published, anti-religious works. ‘He was one of the most radical German materialists of the eighteenth century, who mercilessly denounced superstition and religion. He was a quarrelsome atheist and an unyielding opponent of the church. His works are reminiscent of the combative anti-religious publications of the French materialists. Knoblauch considered it his mission to shed light on the history of the origins of superstition and miracles.' The present work, which orginally appeared in the Teutsche Merkur of 1789-90 seems his most important. In it, Knoblauch combines his legal and philosophical thoughts with economic concepts derived from mercantilist and physiocratic principles. *Spinoza-Bibliographie 1945.