Antonie Pannekoek
Encyclopedia
Antonie Pannekoek (2 January 1873, Vaassen
, Gelderland
–28 April 1960, Wageningen
) was a Dutch
astronomer
and Marxist theorist. He was one of the main theorists of council communism
(Dutch: radencommunisme).
and physics
in Leiden from 1891. Even before he went to college he was interested in astronomy
and studied the variability of Polaris
. He published his first article, On the Necessity of Further Researches on the Milky Way, as a student. Some years after he had finished his study he started work at the Leidse Sterrewacht (Leiden observatory
), where he wrote his thesis.
After reading Edward Bellamy
's Equality, Pannekoek became a convinced socialist
and started studying Karl Marx
's theories. Soon Pannekoek became a well-known Marxist writer, writing for both Dutch and German magazines. Dissatisfaction with his job at the observatory led him to move to Berlin, where he became a lecturer at the school funded by the Social Democratic Party of Germany
. His radical opinions soon got him in trouble with both the German government and the unions.
He was on holiday in the Netherlands when the First World War
broke out. Prevented from returning to Germany, he started work as a chemistry
and science teacher. Though the Leidse Sterrewacht wanted him back, government opposition because of his Marxist sympathies made this fall through. Instead, the Amsterdam
city council got him an appointment at the University of Amsterdam in 1925, first as a part time professor
, and in 1932 also as a full professor.
, as well as the structure of our galaxy. Later he became interested in the nature and evolution of stars. Because of these studies, he is considered to be the founder of astrophysics
as a separate discipline in the Netherlands.
Apart from his theoretical work, he also went on several foreign expeditions to observe solar eclipse
s and take spectra of stars. In 1926 he undertook an expedition to Java in order to chart the Southern Constellations. He was also interested in the history of astronomy
and his book, A History of Astronomy, is considered a standard reference on the subject.
His work in galactic structure, astrophysics and the history of astronomy was of international renown and won him an honorary degree from Harvard University
in 1936, as well as the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
in 1951. The crater Pannekoek
on the Moon
and the asteroid
2378 Pannekoek
are named after him.
The Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek at the University of Amsterdam, of which he had been a director, still carries his name.
tendency and a main figure in the radical
left in the Netherlands
and Germany
. He was active in the Communist Party of the Netherlands
, the Communist Workers' Party of the Netherlands and the Communist Workers' Party of Germany.
He was best known for his writing on workers' councils. He regarded these as a new form of organisation capable of overcoming the limitations of the old organs of the labour movement, the trade union
s and social democratic parties. Basing his theory on what he regarded as the practical lessons of the Russian revolution
, Pannekoek argued that the workers' revolution and the transition from capitalism
to communism
had to be achieved by the workers themselves, democratically organised in workers' councils.
He was a sharp critic of anarchism
, social-democracy and Lenin and Leninism
. His analysis of the failure of the Russian revolution was that after Lenin and the Bolsheviks came to power, they crippled the soviets
. Instead of workers' councils, the Bolsheviks had instituted the rule of their party, which in Pannekoek's view is what led to the institution of the Bolsheviks as a new ruling class. He put his views forward in his 1938 book Lenin als filosoof : een kritische beschouwing over de filosofische grondslagen van het Leninisme originally published under the pseudonym
J. Harper, translated in English as Lenin as philosopher - a critical examination of the philosophical basis of Leninism (1948).
, whom Pannekoek dubbed "Bourgeois Darwinists".
On the basis of Darwin
's own writings - in particular on "The Descent of Man" (1871) - Pannekoek stated:
Vaassen
Vaassen is one of four villages in the Dutch municipality Epe. Vaassen is situated between Apeldoorn and Zwolle, on the eastern edge of the Veluwe in the province of Gelderland and has 12,719 inhabitants...
, Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
–28 April 1960, Wageningen
Wageningen
' is a municipality and a historical town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is famous for Wageningen University, which specializes in life sciences. The city has 37,414 inhabitants , of which many thousands are students...
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and Marxist theorist. He was one of the main theorists of council communism
Council communism
Council communism is a current of libertarian Marxism that emerged out of the November Revolution in the 1920s, characterized by its opposition to state capitalism/state socialism as well as its advocacy of workers' councils as the basis for workers' democracy.Originally affiliated with the...
(Dutch: radencommunisme).
Biography
Pannekoek studied mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in Leiden from 1891. Even before he went to college he was interested in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and studied the variability of Polaris
Polaris
Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....
. He published his first article, On the Necessity of Further Researches on the Milky Way, as a student. Some years after he had finished his study he started work at the Leidse Sterrewacht (Leiden observatory
Leiden Observatory
Leiden Observatory is an astronomical observatory in the city of Leiden, Netherlands. It was established by Leiden University in 1633, to house the quadrant of Snellius, and is the oldest operating University observatory in the world Leiden Observatory (Sterrewacht Leiden in Dutch) is an...
), where he wrote his thesis.
After reading Edward Bellamy
Edward Bellamy
Edward Bellamy was an American author and socialist, most famous for his utopian novel, Looking Backward, set in the year 2000. He was a very influential writer during the Gilded Age of United States history.-Early life:...
's Equality, Pannekoek became a convinced socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and started studying Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's theories. Soon Pannekoek became a well-known Marxist writer, writing for both Dutch and German magazines. Dissatisfaction with his job at the observatory led him to move to Berlin, where he became a lecturer at the school funded by the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
. His radical opinions soon got him in trouble with both the German government and the unions.
He was on holiday in the Netherlands when the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out. Prevented from returning to Germany, he started work as a chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and science teacher. Though the Leidse Sterrewacht wanted him back, government opposition because of his Marxist sympathies made this fall through. Instead, the Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
city council got him an appointment at the University of Amsterdam in 1925, first as a part time professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and in 1932 also as a full professor.
Astronomy
In his scientific work, Pannekoek started studying the distribution of stars through the Milky WayMilky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
, as well as the structure of our galaxy. Later he became interested in the nature and evolution of stars. Because of these studies, he is considered to be the founder of astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
as a separate discipline in the Netherlands.
Apart from his theoretical work, he also went on several foreign expeditions to observe solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
s and take spectra of stars. In 1926 he undertook an expedition to Java in order to chart the Southern Constellations. He was also interested in the history of astronomy
History of astronomy
Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not...
and his book, A History of Astronomy, is considered a standard reference on the subject.
His work in galactic structure, astrophysics and the history of astronomy was of international renown and won him an honorary degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1936, as well as the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
-History:In the early years, more than one medal was often awarded in a year, but by 1833 only one medal was being awarded per year. This caused a problem when Neptune was discovered in 1846, because many felt an award should jointly be made to John Couch Adams and Urbain Le Verrier...
in 1951. The crater Pannekoek
Pannekoek (crater)
Pannekoek is a lunar impact crater that is situated on the far side of the Moon, and cannot be seen directly from the Earth. The crater lies along the northern edge of the slightly larger Dellinger, and their common border forms an area of uneven terrain...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and the asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
2378 Pannekoek
2378 Pannekoek
2378 Pannekoek is a main-belt asteroid discovered on February 13, 1935 by H. van Gent at Johannesburg . It is named after the Dutch astronomer and council communist Anton Pannekoek.- External links :*...
are named after him.
The Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek at the University of Amsterdam, of which he had been a director, still carries his name.
Council communism
As a recognized Marxist theorist, Pannekoek was one of the founders of the council communistCouncil communism
Council communism is a current of libertarian Marxism that emerged out of the November Revolution in the 1920s, characterized by its opposition to state capitalism/state socialism as well as its advocacy of workers' councils as the basis for workers' democracy.Originally affiliated with the...
tendency and a main figure in the radical
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
left in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was active in the Communist Party of the Netherlands
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
, the Communist Workers' Party of the Netherlands and the Communist Workers' Party of Germany.
He was best known for his writing on workers' councils. He regarded these as a new form of organisation capable of overcoming the limitations of the old organs of the labour movement, the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s and social democratic parties. Basing his theory on what he regarded as the practical lessons of the Russian revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
, Pannekoek argued that the workers' revolution and the transition from capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
to communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
had to be achieved by the workers themselves, democratically organised in workers' councils.
He was a sharp critic of anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
, social-democracy and Lenin and Leninism
Leninism
In Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
. His analysis of the failure of the Russian revolution was that after Lenin and the Bolsheviks came to power, they crippled the soviets
Soviet (council)
Soviet was a name used for several Russian political organizations. Examples include the Czar's Council of Ministers, which was called the “Soviet of Ministers”; a workers' local council in late Imperial Russia; and the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union....
. Instead of workers' councils, the Bolsheviks had instituted the rule of their party, which in Pannekoek's view is what led to the institution of the Bolsheviks as a new ruling class. He put his views forward in his 1938 book Lenin als filosoof : een kritische beschouwing over de filosofische grondslagen van het Leninisme originally published under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
J. Harper, translated in English as Lenin as philosopher - a critical examination of the philosophical basis of Leninism (1948).
Marxism and Darwinism
In a pamphlet still quoted by present-day Marxists and social activists, Pannekoek strongly attacked and rebutted the arguments of social Darwinists such as Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era....
, whom Pannekoek dubbed "Bourgeois Darwinists".
On the basis of Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
's own writings - in particular on "The Descent of Man" (1871) - Pannekoek stated:
Scientific writings
- Untersuchungen über den Lichtwechsel von ß Lyrae (1897)
- De wonderbouw der wereld - de grondslagen van ons sterrekundig wereldbeeld populair uiteengezet (1916, 1920, 1924)
- De astrologie en hare beteekenis voor de ontwikkeling der sterrekunde (1916)
- De astrophysica en hare moderne ontwikkeling (1925)
- Results of observations of the total solar eclipse of june 29, 1927 - 1: Photometry of the flash spectrum (1928) with Marcel MinnaertMarcel MinnaertMarcel Gilles Jozef Minnaert was a Belgian astronomer.He obtained a PhD in biology at Ghent University in 1914....
- Results of observations of the total solar eclipse of june 29, 1927 - 2: Photometry of the chromosphere and the corona (1930) with N.W. Doorn
- De groei van ons wereldbeeld - een geschiedenis van de sterrekunde (1951)
- Het ontstaan van de mens (1957)
Political and philosophical writings
- Ethik und Sozialismus - Umwälzungen im Zukunftsstaat (1906)
- Religion und Sozialismus - ein Vortrag (1906)
- Godsdienst en socialisme - voordracht, op 14 September 1905 te Bremen gehouden (1907)
- Ethiek en socialisme (1907)
- Marxisme en revisionisme (1907); with Herman GorterHerman GorterHerman Gorter was a Dutch poet and socialist. He was a leading member of the Tachtigers, a highly influential group of Dutch writers who worked together in Amsterdam in the 1880s, centered around De Nieuwe Gids .Gorter's first book, a 4,000 verse epic poem called "Mei" , sealed his reputation...
- Omwentelingen in den toekomststaat (1907)
- Der Kampf der Arbeiter : sieben Aufsaetze aus der Leipziger Volkszeitung (1907)
- Het marxisme / pro: A. Pannekoek, contra: M.W.F. Treub (1908); with Marie Willem Frederik Treub
- Die taktischen Differenzen in der Arbeiterbewegung (1909)
- Uit de voorgeschiedenis van den wereldoorlog (1915)
- De oorlog : zijn oorsprong en zijn bestrijding (ca. 1915)
- Darwinisme en marxisme (ca. 1916)
- Lenin als Philosoph (1938) pseud.: J. Harper
External links
- K. van Berkel, "Pannekoek, Antonie (1873-1960)", in Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland.
- Anton Pannekoek texts at Libertarian Communist Library
- Anton Pannekoek Archive of his political writings at Marxists.org
- Anton Pannekoek and the Quest For an Emancipatory Socialism
- Anton Pannekoek Astronomical Institute
- Fintan Lane, Contradicting the Bolsheviks: Anton Pannekoek and European Marxism