thumb|Christian August Crusius

Christian August Crusius (10 January 1715 – 18 October 1775) was a German philosopher and Protestant theologian.

Biography

Crusius was born in Leuna in the Electorate of Saxony. He was educated at the University of Leipzig, and became extraordinary professor of theology there in 1744, ordinary professor in 1750, and senior (university officer) in 1773. and also explicitly refuted Crusius' characterization of Spirit in a footnote of his Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics: "Crusius alone thought of a compromise: that a Spirit, who can neither err nor deceive, implanted these laws in us originally. But since false principles often intrude themselves, as indeed the very system of this man shows in not a few examples, we are involved in difficulties as to the use of such a principle in the absence of sure criteria to distinguish the genuine origin from the spurious, as we never can know certainly what the Spirit of truth or the father of lies may have instilled into us." Kant also owned Anweisung, Entwurf, and Anleitung.

Crusius's later life was devoted to theology. He led the party in the university which became known as the "Crusianer" as opposed to the "Ernestianer," the followers of Johann August Ernesti. The two professors adopted opposite methods of exegesis. Ernesti wished to subject the Scripture in the same way as other ancient books; Crusius held firmly to orthodox ecclesiastical tradition.

Notes

References

  • Crusius, Christian August.Die philosophische Hauptwerke, edited by Giorgio Tonelli, Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1964 (four volumes).
  • Tonelli, Giorgio. "Crusius, Christian August" in Paul Edwards, The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, New York: Macmillan, 1967, vol. 2, pp. 268–271.
  • The Birth of Ontology. A selection of Ontologists from 1560 to 1770
  • Entwurf der nothwendigen Vernunftwahrheiten 3rd edition (1766)