Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach

Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach (1804-1872) was a German philosopher, son of the succeeding, born at Landshut. He studied theology at Hiedelberg, but coming under the influence of Hegel went to Berlin and devoted himself to philosophy. After failing in an attempt to support himself by lecturing in Erlangen, he was fortunate in his marriage, and upon his wife's means lived a retired and studious life at Bruckberg. In his philosophy, which is a degeneracy and finally total departure from Hegel, he declines to find a higher sanction for morality than man's own conception of right and wrong as based on a doctrine of Hedonism. His chief work, on the nature of Christianity, which was translated into English by George Eliot, is extravagant in its departure from orthodox lines of thought. His influence has been trifling outside his own country. He began with Hegel, but "descended at last from Hegel's logical idea to naked sense," and what guidance for life might be involved in it.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Der Mensch ist, was er isst.

(Man is what he eats.)
- Lehre der Nahrungsmittel: Fur das Volk

Benjamin Disraeli