Markus Herz | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byFriedrich Georg Weitsch | |
| Born | (1747-01-17)17 January 1747 |
| Died | 19 January 1803(1803-01-19) (aged 56) |
| Education | |
| Education | University of Königsberg |
Markus Herz (German:[hɛʁts]; Berlin, 17 January 1747 – Berlin, 19 January 1803) was aGerman Jewishphysician andlecturer onphilosophy.[1]
Born inBerlin to very poor parents, Herz was destined for amercantile career, and in 1762 went toKönigsberg,East Prussia. He soon gave up his position asclerk and attended theUniversity of Königsberg,[2] becoming a pupil ofImmanuel Kant, but was obliged to discontinue his studies for want of means. He thereupon became secretary to the wealthy Russian Ephraim, travelling with him through theBaltic Provinces.
On 21 August 1770, he travelled fromBerlin and acted as respondent when Kant presented hisInaugural dissertation[3] at the University of Königsberg for the post of ordinary professor. In 1770 he had returned to Germany and studiedmedicine inHalle, where he became aDoctor of Medicine in 1774, in which year he established himself in Berlin, being appointed physician at theJewishhospital. Beginning in 1777, he delivered public lectures on medicine and philosophy, which were well attended by the students and the principal personages of the Prussian capital. At some of them even members of the royal family were present.
Herz marriedHenriette de Lemos in 1779[4] and their house was for a long time the meeting place of Berlin's political,artistic, scientific, and literary intellectuals such asFriedrich Schleiermacher,Friedrich Schlegel,[2] and the youngAlexander von Humboldt.[5] In 1782 he became ill through overstudy, and had to give up his lectures until 1785, when a sojourn inBad Pyrmont restored his health.
In 1791, he received the title of Professor of Philosophy at the academy and that of "Hofrath", but lectured only for a few years, giving most of his time to his medical practice. Herz was a friend and pupil ofMoses Mendelssohn, and was also well acquainted withLessing. For many years, Herz corresponded with Kant and their letters are considered to be of great philosophical importance.[4] He died in Berlin.
Compulsory vaccination was strongly condemned by Herz, and in 1801 he wrote an open letter on the subject to Dr. D. Dohmeyer, under the heading "Ueber die Brutalimpfung" ("About Brutal Vaccination").[6][7]
Herz was the author of:
