Johann Jakob Breitinger
Encyclopedia
Johann Jakob Breitinger (1 March 1701 in Zürich
; 14 December 1776) was a Swiss philologist and author
.
and philology
and first earned recognition from 1730 through a new edition of the Septuaginta. From 1731 he worked as Professor of Hebrew
and later of Greek
in the gymnasium
in Zürich. Breitinger was however best known for his collaborations with his friend Johann Jakob Bodmer
. In their joint work it cannot always to be distinguished, from whom most of the suggestions came. The main part of the historical collection Thesaurus Historicae Helveticae (1735) may be attributed to Breitinger.
Breitinger's principal work Critische Dichtkunst (1740) was a rejection of the traditional poetic principle of imitation of nature for the benefit of the creative imagination; it had a big influence on German literary theory and the burgeoning genius
cult. In this context was also the literary-historically significant dispute of Bodmer and Breitinger with Johann Christoph Gottsched
.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
; 14 December 1776) was a Swiss philologist and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Life
Breitinger studied theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and first earned recognition from 1730 through a new edition of the Septuaginta. From 1731 he worked as Professor of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and later of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
in the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Zürich. Breitinger was however best known for his collaborations with his friend Johann Jakob Bodmer
Johann Jakob Bodmer
Johann Jakob Bodmer was a Swiss-German author, academic, critic and poet.-Life:Born at Greifensee, near Zürich, and first studying theology and then trying a commercial career, he finally found his vocation in letters...
. In their joint work it cannot always to be distinguished, from whom most of the suggestions came. The main part of the historical collection Thesaurus Historicae Helveticae (1735) may be attributed to Breitinger.
Breitinger's principal work Critische Dichtkunst (1740) was a rejection of the traditional poetic principle of imitation of nature for the benefit of the creative imagination; it had a big influence on German literary theory and the burgeoning genius
Genius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
cult. In this context was also the literary-historically significant dispute of Bodmer and Breitinger with Johann Christoph Gottsched
Johann Christoph Gottsched
Johann Christoph Gottsched was a German author and critic.-Biography:He was born at Juditten near Königsberg, Brandenburg-Prussia, the son of a Lutheran clergyman...
.
Works
- Kritische Abhandlung von der Natur, den Absichten und dem Gebrauche der Gleichnisse, 1740
- Critische Dichtkunst, 1740
- Verteidigung der schweizerischen Muse Herrn D. A. Hallers, 1744
Further reading
- Wolfgang Bender: Johann Jakob Bodmer und Johann Jakob Breitinger. Metzler, Stuttgart 1973. (= Sammlung Metzler; 113) ISBN 3-476-10113-4
- Thomas Brunnschweiler: Johann Jakob Breitingers "Bedencken von Comoedien oder Spilen". Die Theaterfeindlichkeit im alten Zürich. Edition - Kommentar - Monographie. Lang, Bern u.a. 1989. (= Zürcher germanistische Studien; 17) ISBN 3-261-04102-1
- Uwe Möller: Rhetorische Ueberlieferung und Dichtungstheorie im frühen 18. Jahrhundert. Studien zu Gottsched, Breitinger und Georg Friedrich Meier. Fink, München 1983. ISBN 3-7705-2102-1