Semyon Desnitsky
Encyclopedia
Semyon Efimovich Desnitsky (1740–1789) was a disciple of Adam Smith
who introduced his ideas to the Russia
n public. He was also the first academic to deliver his lectures in Russian language
rather than in Latin.
Of Ukrainian
extraction, he was born in Nizhyn
and, after a brief spell in the Trinity Lavra seminary, attended the Moscow University, starting in 1759. He went to continue his education at the University of Glasgow
, in which he studied with Adam Smith. Having been made doctor of laws, he returned to read lectures at the Moscow University.
Desnitsky was the first Russian professor
to question the authority of Samuel von Pufendorf
on legal matters and the first to introduce the doctrines of Adam Smith and David Hume
to Russian students. He also translated the works of Sir William Blackstone
(Commentaries of the laws of England) and advocated equality of the sexes in family law
.
Desnitsky pioneered the comparative approach to the study of law and regarded property
as a cornerstone of every legal system. There was a great outcry over his rejection of Latin as the sole language of instruction; but Catherine II of Russia
personally settled the issue in his favour.
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
who introduced his ideas to the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n public. He was also the first academic to deliver his lectures in Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
rather than in Latin.
Of Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
extraction, he was born in Nizhyn
Nizhyn
Nizhyn is a city located in the Chernihiv Oblast of northern Ukraine, along the Oster River, north-east of the nation's capital, Kiev. It is the administrative center of the Nizhynsky Raion, though the city itself is also designated as a district in the oblast...
and, after a brief spell in the Trinity Lavra seminary, attended the Moscow University, starting in 1759. He went to continue his education at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, in which he studied with Adam Smith. Having been made doctor of laws, he returned to read lectures at the Moscow University.
Desnitsky was the first Russian 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...
to question the authority of Samuel von Pufendorf
Samuel von Pufendorf
Baron Samuel von Pufendorf was a German jurist, political philosopher, economist, statesman, and historian. His name was just Samuel Pufendorf until he was ennobled in 1684; he was made a Freiherr a few months before his death in 1694...
on legal matters and the first to introduce the doctrines of Adam Smith and David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
to Russian students. He also translated the works of Sir William Blackstone
William Blackstone
Sir William Blackstone KC SL was an English jurist, judge and Tory politician of the eighteenth century. He is most noted for writing the Commentaries on the Laws of England. Born into a middle class family in London, Blackstone was educated at Charterhouse School before matriculating at Pembroke...
(Commentaries of the laws of England) and advocated equality of the sexes in family law
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
.
Desnitsky pioneered the comparative approach to the study of law and regarded property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
as a cornerstone of every legal system. There was a great outcry over his rejection of Latin as the sole language of instruction; but Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
personally settled the issue in his favour.