Hemsterhuis, platonicien (1721-1790)

Abstract

Jean-Louis Vieillard-Baron : Hemsterhuis, a Dutch Plato, (1721-1790). Hemsterhuis, although now almost forgotten, was widely esteemed in his time. His philosophy, which is original, derives from the Dutch Cartesian and Newtonian tradition ; it was also influenced by Malebranche and the Cambridge Platonist, Ralph Cudworth. In turn Hemsterhuis influenced Schelling, Hegel and Novalis. He published numerous ' platonic dialogues ' : Socrates was for him the model for a direct, non-academic, and profoundly true philosophy. Although rejecting Plato in his attempt to reconcile poetry and philosophy, he adopted such Platonic themes as the concept of ' idea that of the soul as a moral organ, and the theory of the soul of the world.