Bruno Bauer
Bruno Bauer was a notable German theologian, philosopher, and historian born on September 6, 1809, in Eisenberg, Saxe-Altenburg. His family relocated to Berlin when he was a child, where he studied at Friedrich Wilhelm University and became influenced by the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Initially aligned with the Hegelian Right, Bauer gained recognition for his philosophical contributions, receiving the Prussian Royal Prize in 1829 and later teaching at both the University of Berlin and the University of Bonn. However, his career took a turn when he was dismissed from Bonn in 1842 due to his controversial writings on the New Testament, which elicited the disapproval of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.
Bauer's philosophical perspective evolved over time, leading him to reject his earlier orthodox views and embrace a radical Hegelian Left approach. He became known for his critical stance on Christianity, asserting that it had roots in deceptive origins, and famously described it as "Stoicism triumphant in a Jewish garb." His work is considered influential, with some scholars noting its impact on the thinking of Karl Marx. Despite his intellectual contributions, Bauer's legacy remains complex, as his later writings reflected themes of socialism, imperialism, and anti-Semitism. He passed away on April 13, 1882, in Rixdorf.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Bruno Bauer
Theologian
- Born: September 6, 1809
- Birthplace: Eisenberg, Saxe-Altenburg, Germany
- Died: April 13, 1882
- Place of death: Rixdorf, Germany
Biography
Bruno Bauer was a German theologian, philosopher, and historian. He was born in Eisenberg, Saxe-Altenburg, on September 6, 1809, the son of a porcelain painter. His family moved from Saxe-Altenburg to Berlin in 1815. Bauer attended the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin, where he studied the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. He developed a strong interest in philosophy, and in 1829 he received the Prussian Royal Prize in philosophy.
As Bauer’s interest in philosophy continued to grow, he became a devoted follower of the Hegelian Right and began teaching philosophy himself. In 1834, Bauer served as a teacher of philosophy at Friedrich Wilhem University and was eventually transferred to the University of Bonn in 1839. He taught at Bonn until 1842, when he was dismissed for his unorthodox writings on the New Testament. The order for his dismissal came directly from King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia.
During his early teaching career, he published two volumes of Kritik der Geschichte der Offenbarung, Theil 1, Band 2: Die Religion des Alten Testaments in der geschichtlichen Entwickelung ihrer Prinzipien dargestellt (1838-1839). This work manifested his following of the Hegelian Right philosophy. However, soon after the publication of this journal, Bauer’s philosophies changed. He announced the complete rejection of his earlier orthodoxy and affiliated himself with a radical philosophy of the Hegelian Left. From this time on, he took an interest in modern history, philosophy, and politics. He turned his attention to criticism of the New Testament and is quoted as saying that Christianity is “Stoicism triumphant in a Jewish garb.” Bauer published several works supporting his view that Christianity evolved from fraudulent origins. It is said that his philosophical works influenced Karl Marx.
Bauer’s intellectual legacy is complex. His early works adhere to the philosophy of the Hegelian Republicanism, while his later works manifest the ideals of socialism, imperialism, and anti-Semitism. Bauer died at Rixdorf on April 13, 1882.