Anton Günther
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Anton Günther (17 November 1783, Lindenau,
Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
(now part of Cvikov,
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) – 24 February 1863,
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) was an
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philosopher A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...
whose work was condemned by the church as heretical
tritheism Tritheism (from Greek τριθεΐα, "three divinity") is a nontrinitarian Christian heresy in which the unity of the Trinity and thus monotheism are denied. It represents more a "possible deviation" than any actual school of thought positing thre ...
. His work has been described as
Liberal Catholicism Liberal Catholicism was a current of thought within the Catholic Church. It was influential in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, especially in France. It is largely identified with French political theorists such as Felicité ...
and Vienna's first Catholic political movement. His writings made him a leader among the generation of German Catholic theologians who emerged from the Romantic movement.


Biography

Anton Günther was born the eldest son of devout Catholic parents at Lindenau (now part of Cvikov) in
Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
. His father was a blacksmith. From 1796 to 1800 he attended the monastic school of the
Piarists The Piarists (), officially named the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools ( la, Ordo Clericorum Regularium pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum), abbreviated SchP, is a religious order of clerics regular of the ...
at Haide and from 1800 to 1803 the gymnasium of Leitmeritz. Subsequently he studied philosophy and jurisprudence at
Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
, where he studied under, among others,
Bernard Bolzano Bernard Bolzano (, ; ; ; born Bernardus Placidus Johann Gonzal Nepomuk Bolzano; 5 October 1781 – 18 December 1848) was a Bohemian mathematician, logician, philosopher, theologian and Catholic priest of Italian extraction, also known for his liber ...
, and paid his way by assisting the teachers. After completing these studies he became a
tutor TUTOR, also known as PLATO Author Language, is a programming language developed for use on the PLATO system at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning in roughly 1965. TUTOR was initially designed by Paul Tenczar for use in co ...
in the household of Prince Bretzenheim. Lauchert, Friedrich. "Anton Günther." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 20 January 2021
Günther's religious views had been shaken during the years of his student life by his study of the modern systems of philosophy (
Kant Immanuel Kant (, , ; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and one of the central Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemolo ...
,
Johann Gottlieb Fichte Johann Gottlieb Fichte (; ; 19 May 1762 – 29 January 1814) was a German philosopher who became a founding figure of the philosophical movement known as German idealism, which developed from the theoretical and ethical writings of Immanuel Kan ...
, Jacob and
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (; 27 January 1775 – 20 August 1854), later (after 1812) von Schelling, was a German philosopher. Standard histories of philosophy make him the midpoint in the development of German idealism, situating him be ...
); but his removal in 1810 to Brünn (Brno) near Vienna with the prince's family brought him under the influence of the parish priest of this place, named Korn, and particularly of Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, and restored him to firm Catholic convictions. He then took up the study of theology, first at Vienna and afterwards at Raab (Győr) in Hungary. From 1818 Günther was active in the world of letters as contributor to the "Viennese Literary Chronicle" (''Wiener Jahrbücher der Literatur''). In 1820 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1822 he entered the
Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...
novitiate The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...
at Starawicz in Galicia, but left it in 1824 due to poor health and differences with the Jesuits. For the rest of his life he resided at Vienna as a private ecclesiastic. In 1828 began to appear the series of works in which he expounded his system of philosophy and speculative theology. He wrote extensively, tutored, and served as a chaplain at the court church. He spent most of his life in the city as a reclusive scholar, supported primarily by an annual stipend from a noble patron. Much of his time he spent reviewing literary, philosophical, and theological works, but it did not pay well. Günther was well-respected. in 1847 he was offered a canonry at St. Stephen's Cathedral. In 1849, he received an honorary doctorate in theology from
Charles-Ferdinand University Charles University ( cs, Univerzita Karlova, UK; la, Universitas Carolina; german: Karls-Universität), also known as Charles University in Prague or historically as the University of Prague ( la, Universitas Pragensis, links=no), is the oldest an ...
in Prague, and in 1852 one from the University of Munich. Until 1848 occupied a position in that city as a member of the State Board of Book Censorship. He died in Vienna.


Views

Günther aimed at the intellectual confutation of the
Pantheism Pantheism is the belief that reality, the universe and the cosmos are identical with divinity and a supreme supernatural being or entity, pointing to the universe as being an immanent creator deity still expanding and creating, which has ex ...
of modern philosophy,Yonke, Eric S., "Anton Günther", ''Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions, (James Chastain, ed.) 2000
/ref> especially in its most seductive form, the
Hegelian Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (; ; 27 August 1770 – 14 November 1831) was a German philosopher. He is one of the most important figures in German idealism and one of the founding figures of modern Western philosophy. His influence extends a ...
, by originating such a system of Christian philosophy as would better serve this purpose than the Scholastic system which he rejected. He further strives to demonstrate scientifically that the fundamental teachings of the Christian Faith, and even the mysteries of the
Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
and the
Incarnation Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It refers to the conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or the appearance of a god as a human. If capitalized, it is the union of divinit ...
, at least in their ''raison d'être'' if not in their form, are necessary truths in the mere light of reason. In his 1828 ''Preparatory School for Speculative Theology'', Günther sought "...to use idealistic philosophy rather than scholastic philosophy, as a foundation upon which to expound the Bible and theology."Rogerson, John. ''Old Testament Criticism in the Nineteenth Century'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2010, p.115
Günther views history as "...a dialectic between God's work of redemption and man's constant misuse of his freedom." "The implication of the incarnation would be a central motif of his thought."Nichols, Aidan. ''The Conversation of Faith and Reason'', LiturgyTrainingPublications, 2011, p.44
The first result of his ideal thought-process is self-consciousness, the knowledge which man acquires of himself as a real being. Inasmuch as the soul contradistinguishes itself as a real being from whatever appears before it, it arrives at the idea of the Ego. By this speculative process, which Günther calls a "
metalogic Metalogic is the study of the metatheory of logic. Whereas ''logic'' studies how logical systems can be used to construct valid and sound arguments, metalogic studies the properties of logical systems.Harry GenslerIntroduction to Logic Routledge, ...
al" or ideal (''ideell'') inference, as distinct from a logical or conceptual conclusion, the idea of its own being becomes for the soul the most certain of all truths (the
Cartesian Cartesian means of or relating to the French philosopher René Descartes—from his Latinized name ''Cartesius''. It may refer to: Mathematics *Cartesian closed category, a closed category in category theory *Cartesian coordinate system, modern ...
''
cogito ergo sum The Latin , usually translated into English as "I think, therefore I am", is the "first principle" of René Descartes's philosophy. He originally published it in French as , in his 1637 ''Discourse on the Method'', so as to reach a wider audien ...
''). Then from the certainty of its own existence the thinking soul arrives at the knowledge of an existence outside itself, since it is confronted by phenomena which it cannot refer to itself as cause, and for which, in line with the ontological inference, it must assign a cause in some real being external to itself. The fact of self-consciousness leads him also to the knowledge of God; and Günther believes that the following
proof of the existence of God The existence of God (or more generally, the existence of deities) is a subject of debate in theology, philosophy of religion and popular culture. A wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of God or deities can be categorized ...
is the only one that is possible and conclusive: when the soul, once self-conscious, has become certain of the reality of its own existence, it immediately recognizes that existence to be afflicted with the negative characteristics of dependency and limitedness; it is therefore compelled to postulate another being as its own condition precedent or its own creator, which being it must recognize, in contradistinction to itself and its own inherent negative characteristics, as absolute and infinite. Wherefore this being cannot be the Absolute Being of Pantheism, which only arrives at a realization of itself with the development of the universe; it must be One Who dominates that universe and, differing substantially from it, is the personal Creator thereof. This is the point at which Günther's speculative theology takes up the thread. Proceeding along purely philosophical lines, and prescinding entirely from historical Divine Revelation, the absolute necessity of which Günther contests, it seeks to make evident the fundamental tenets of positive Christianity by the mere light of reason. This world-reality, which God, by the mere act of His will, has through creation called from nothingness into being, does indeed exist as really as God Himself. Thus the two antithetical factors of spirit and nature in the created world differ substantially from each other and stand in mutual opposition. The antithetical relation of spirit and nature shows itself in this, that the realm of the purely spiritual is formed of a plurality of substances, of unitary and integral real principles, each of which must ever retain its unity and its integrity; while nature, which was created a single substance, a single real principle, has in its process of differentiation lost its unity for ever, and has brought forth, and still brings forth, a multiplicity of forms or individuals. For this very reason nature, in her organic individual manifestations, each of which is only a fragment of the universal nature-substance, can only attain to thought without self-consciousness. Self-conscious thought, on the other hand, is peculiar to the spirit, since self-consciousness, the thought of the Ego, presupposes the substantial unity and integrity of a free personality. The synthesis of spirit and nature is man. From man's character as a generic being, the result of his participation in the life of nature, Günther deduces the rational basis of the dogmas of the Incarnation and Redemption. And, as this explains why the guilt of the first parent extends to the entire race, so also does it show how God could with perfect consistency bring about the redemption of the race which had fallen in Adam through the God-Man's union with that race as its second Head, Whose free compliance with the Divine will lay the basis of the fund of hereditary merit which serves to cancel the inherited guilt. Günther was a faithful Catholic and a devout priest. His philosophical labours were at any rate a sincere and honest endeavour to promote the triumph of positive Christianity over those systems of philosophy which were inimical to it. But it is questionable whether he pursued the right course in disregarding the fruitful labours of Scholastic theology and philosophy – of which, like most who scorn them, he had but scanty knowledge – and permitting his thought, particularly in his natural philosophy, and his speculative method to be unduly influenced by those very systems (of
Hegel Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (; ; 27 August 1770 – 14 November 1831) was a German philosopher. He is one of the most important figures in German idealism and one of the founding figures of modern Western philosophy. His influence extends a ...
and Schelling) which he combated. The fact is that the desired result was in no wise attained. The schools of philosophy which he thought he could compel, by turning their own weapons against them, to recognize the truth of Christianity, took practically no notice of his ardent contentions, while the Church not only was unable to accept his system as the true Christian philosophy and to supplant with it the Scholastic system, but was finally obliged to reject it as unsound.


Guntherians

With the 1848 revolution violence broke out in Vienna, and Archbishop
Vinzenz Eduard Milde Vinzenz Eduard Milde (1777, in Brünn, Moravia – 1853 at Vienna) was Prince-Archbishop of Vienna. He was the first Prince-Archbishop and commoner: the see had always hitherto been occupied by a nobleman. Life He entered the "Alumnat" or l ...
withdrew from the city. Günther's followers stayed, and organized the clergy and laity against the archbishop's wishes. The Güntherians became advocates of constitutional monarchy. They also advocated for free speech, press, and association.Stewart, Jon Bartley. ''Kierkegaard and His German Contemporaries'', Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007, p.102
They were repressed upon the Archbishop's return.


Works

*''Vorschule zur speculativen Theologie des positiven Christenthums'' (Introduction to the Speculative Theology of Positive Christianity), in letter form; part I: "Die Creationstheorie" (The Theory of Creation); part II "Die Incarnationstheorie" (The Theory of the Incarnation) (1st ed., Vienna, 1828-9; 2nd ed., 1846-8); *''Peregrins Gastmahl. Eine Idylle in elf Octaven aus dem deutschen wissenschaftlichen Volksleben, mit Beiträgen zur Charakteristik europäischer Philosophie in älterer und neuerer Zeit'' (Vienna, 1830; new ed., 1850); *''Süd- und Nordlichter am Horizont speculativer Theologie, Fragment eines evangelischen Briefwechsels'' (Vienna, 1832; new ed., 1850); *''Janusköpfe für Philosophie und Theologie'' (in collaboration with J. H. Pabst; Vienna, 1833); *''Der letzte Symboliker. Eine durch die symbolischen Werke Dr. J. A. Möhlers und Dr. F. C. Baurs veranlasste Schrift in Briefen'' (Vienna, 1834); *''Thomas a Scrupulis. Zur Transfiguration der Persönlichkeits-Pantheismen neuester Zeit'' (Vienna, 1835); *''Die Juste-Milieus in der deutschen Philosophie gegenwärtiger Zeit'' (Vienna, 1838); *''Eurystheus und Herakles. Metalogische Kritiken und Meditationen'' (Vienna, 1843). A new edition of these eight works, collected into nine volumes, appeared at Vienna in 1882 under the title of Günther's ''Gesammelte Schriften''. In addition to these, Günther produced in conjunction with J. E. Veith: "''Lydia, Philosophisches Jahrbuch''" (5 volumes, Vienna, 1849–54). His "''Lentigos und Peregrins Briefwechsel''" was printed in 1857, but was issued only for private circulation. Finally, long after Günther's death,
Franz Peter Knoodt Franz Peter Knoodt (6 November 1811 – 27 January 1889) was a German Catholic theologian who was a native of Boppard. He studied theology in Bonn und Tübingen, and later worked as a chaplain and teacher in Trier. In 1841-43 he furthered hi ...
published from his posthumous papers "''Anti-Savarese''" (Vienna, 1883).


Reception and ecclesiastical condemnation

Among Catholic scholars Günther's speculative system occasioned a far-reaching movement. Though he never held a position as professor, he gathered about him through his writings a school of enthusiastic and in some instances distinguished followers, who on the other hand were opposed by eminent philosophers and theologians. At its zenith the school was powerful enough to secure the appointment of some of its members to academic professorships in Catholic philosophy. Günther himself was offered professorships at
Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
,
Bonn The federal city of Bonn ( lat, Bonna) is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a population of over 300,000. About south-southeast of Cologne, Bonn is in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr r ...
, Breslau and
Tübingen Tübingen (, , Swabian: ''Dibenga'') is a traditional university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer rivers. about one in thr ...
; he refused these because he hoped for a like offer from Vienna, but his expectation was never realized. In 1833 he received from Munich an honorary degree of Doctor of Theology, and a similar degree in philosophy and theology was conferred on him by the University of Prague in 1848. His earliest friends and collaborators were: the physician,
Johann Heinrich Pabst Johann Heinrich Pabst (25 January 1785 – 28 July 1838) was a German-Austrian physician, philosopher and lay theologian who was a native of Lindau in Eichsfeld. Biography In 1807 he earned his medical doctorate at the University of Göttingen and ...
(died 1838, author of ''Der Mensch und seine Geschichte'', Vienna, 1830; 2nd ed., 1847; ''Gibt es eine Philosophie des positiven Christenthums?'' Cologne, 1832; ''Adam und Christus. Zur Theorie der Ehe'', Vienna, 1835; in collaboration with Günther, the ''Janusköpfe''); the celebrated homilist Johann Emmanual Veith, a convert (d. 1876, co-editor of the publication ''Lydia'') and Karl Franz von Hock (d. 1869; wrote ''Cartesius und seine Gegner, ein Beitrag zur Charakteristik der philosophischen Bestrebungen unserer Zeit'', Vienna, 1835, and other works; later took an active part in the discussion of political and economical questions). Other prominent adherents of Günther were: Johann Heinrich Löwe (professor of philosophy at
Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...
, 1839–51; at Prague, 1851); Johann Nepomuk Ehrlich (d. 1864; from 1836 taught philosophy in Krems; in 1850 became professor of moral theology at
Graz Graz (; sl, Gradec) is the capital city of the Austrian state of Styria and second-largest city in Austria after Vienna. As of 1 January 2021, it had a population of 331,562 (294,236 of whom had principal-residence status). In 2018, the popul ...
, in 1852 at Prague, where in 1856 he became professor of
fundamental theology Fundamental theology, in John Hardon's ''Modern Catholic Dictionary'', is a "branch of theology which establishes the fact that God has made a supernatural revelation and established the Church, founded by Christ, as its divinely authorized custodi ...
); Jakob Zukrigl (d. 1876; professor of apologetics and philosophy at Tübingen, 1848); Xaver Schmid (d. 1883; in 1856 he became a Protestant); Jakob Merten (d. 1872); professor of philosophy in the seminary of
Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...
, 1845–68); Karl Werner (d. 1888; professor at
St. Pölten ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy ...
, 1847; at Vienna, 1870); Theodor Gangauf,
O.S.B. , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , found ...
(d. 1875; professor of philosophy at the college of
Augsburg Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ' ...
, 1841–75, and simultaneously, 1851–59, Abbot of the
Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...
convent of St. Stephen's at the same place); Johann Spörlein (d. 1873; from 1849 professor at the college of
Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...
); Georg Karl Mayer (d. 1868; from 1842 professor at the college of Bamberg); Peter Knoodt (d. 1889; from 1845 professor of philosophy at Bonn);
Peter Joseph Elvenich Peter Joseph Elvenich (29 January 1796 – 16 June 1886) was a German Catholic theologian and philosopher born in Embken, a village that today is part of Nideggen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He was a principal supporter and defender of Hermesianism, a ...
(d. 1886; from 1829 professor of philosophy at Breslau, at first a Hermesian and later a disciple of Günther);
Johann Baptista Baltzer Johann Baptista Baltzer (16 June 1803 – 1 October 1871) was a German Catholic theologian. Biography He was born at Andernach, and studied at the University of Bonn, which he left in 1827. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1829, he recei ...
(d. 1871; from 1830 professor of dogmatic theology at Breslau, originally a Hermesian);
Joseph Hubert Reinkens Joseph Hubert Reinkens (March 1, 1821 – January 4, 1896) was the first German Old Catholic bishop. Biography He was born at Burtscheid (now part of Aachen) in the Rhine Province, the son of a gardener. In 1836, on the death of his mother, he to ...
(d. 1896; from 1853 professor of church history at Breslau; from 1873 Old Catholic bishop at Bonn). Finally, in a younger generation, the most distinguished advocates of the system were pupils of Knoodt, Theodor Weber (d. 1906; professor of philosophy at Breslau, 1872–90; from 1890 vicar-general under Reinkens at Bonn, and from 1896
Old Catholic The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...
bishop in that city), whose "Metaphysik" (2 volumes, Gotha, 1888–91), containing an independent reconstruction of Günther's speculation, is on the whole the most important work of the Güntherian School; and Ernst Melzer (d. 1899 at Bonn). Among the literary opponents of Günther's philosophy the following deserve mention: Johann Hast, Wenzeslaus Mattes, P. Volkmuth, P. Ildephons Sorg, O.S.B., Johann Nepomuk Oischinger,
Franz Xaver Dieringer Franz Xaver Dieringer was a Catholic theologian (22 August 1811, at Rangendingen (Hohenzollern-Hechingen) – 8 September 1876, at Veringendorf (today a district of Veringenstadt)). He was a professor of dogma and homiletics at the University of Bo ...
,
Franz Jakob Clemens Franz Jacob Clemens (4 October 1815 – 24 February 1862) was a German Roman Catholic Church, Catholic philosopher, a layman who defended the Catholic Church even on theological questions. Life Clemens was born in Koblenz. After spending some t ...
, Friedrich Michelis, Johann Adam Hitzfelder,
Joseph Kleutgen Joseph (or Josef) Wilhelm Karl Kleutgen (9 April 1811 – 13 January 1883) was a German Jesuit theologian and philosopher. He was a member of the Society of Jesus, and contributed significantly to the establishment of Neo-scholasticism.
and
Johannes Katschthaler Johannes Baptist Katschthaler (29 May 1832—27 February 1914) was an Austrian Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Salzburg from 1900 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1903. Biography Johannes Ka ...
.


Branded heretical

The
Congregation of the Index The ''Index Librorum Prohibitorum'' ("List of Prohibited Books") was a list of publications deemed heretical or contrary to morality by the Sacred Congregation of the Index (a former Dicastery of the Roman Curia), and Catholics were forbidde ...
in Rome began in 1852 an investigation of Günther's doctrines and writings, Günther being invited to appear personally or to send some of his disciples to represent him. This mission was entrusted to Baltzer and Gangauf who arrived at Rome in November, 1853. Gangauf was replaced by Knoodt, a professor of theology at Bonn, in the summer of 1854. The latter and Baltzer laboured together until the end of November in that year, when they submitted their written defence to the Congregation of the Index and returned to Germany. Yet their efforts and the favourable intervention of friends in high station failed to avert the final blow, though they served to defer it for a time. Cardinal Schwarzenberg and Cardinal von Diepenbrock and Bishop Arnoldi of Trier were friendly to Günther and assisted him at Rome. Even the head of the Congregation of the Index, Cardinal d'Andrea, was well-disposed towards him. On the other hand, Cardinals
Johannes von Geissel Johannes von Geissel (5 February 1796 – 8 September 1864) was a German Catholic Archbishop of Cologne and Cardinal from the Electorate of the Palatinate. Life Gessel was born in Gimmeldingen in the Electorate of the Palatinate. After co ...
,
Joseph Othmar Rauscher Joseph Othmar Ritter von Rauscher (6 October 1797 in Vienna – 24 November 1875 in Vienna) was an Austrian Prince-Archbishop of Vienna and Cardinal. Life He received his earlier education at the gymnasium in Vienna, devoting himself chiefly ...
and Carl von Reisach urged his condemnation. By decree of 8 January 1857 the Congregation placed the works of Günther on the ''
Index librorum prohibitorum The ''Index Librorum Prohibitorum'' ("List of Prohibited Books") was a list of publications deemed heretical or contrary to morality by the Sacred Congregation of the Index (a former Dicastery of the Roman Curia), and Catholics were forbidden ...
''. The special grounds of this condemnation were set forth by
Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...
in the Brief addressed by him to Cardinal von Geissel,
Archbishop of Cologne The Archbishop of Cologne is an archbishop governing the Archdiocese of Cologne of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and is also a historical state in the Rhine holding the birthplace of Beethoven and northern Rhineland-Palati ...
, on 15 June 1857, which declares that Günther's teachings on the Trinity, the Person of Christ, the nature of man, the Creation and particularly his views on the relation of faith to knowledge, as well as fundamental rationalism, which is the controlling factor of his philosophy even in the handling of Christian dogmas, are not consistent with the doctrine of the Church. Before the publication of the Index decree, Günther had been summoned to submit thereto, and in fact had declared his acquiescence, but for him internal submission and rejection of his errors was out of the question. He felt keenly the blow, which he looked upon as an injustice and which embittered him; but subsequently he published nothing. Some of his followers, like Merten, now turned away from Güntherianism, but the greater number held to it obstinately, and for many years it found academic support at Bonn (through Knoodt) and at Breslau (through Elvenich and Weber). After the
First Vatican Council The First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the First Vatican Council or Vatican I was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This, the twentieth ecu ...
most of the Güntherians named above who were still living at the time (with the exception of Veith) joined the
Old Catholic The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...
movement, in which some of them assumed leading parts. Their hopes of thus imparting new vigour to Güntherianism were not realized, whereas, by their separation from the Church, they brought about the final elimination of Güntherian influence from Catholic thought.


See also

* Johann Emanuel Veith, friend and associate of Günther


References

*


External links


Dietrich, Donald J. "Anton Günther: Catholic Liberal in the Hapsburg Empire". ''Journal of Church and State'', vol. 23, no. 3, 1981, pp. 497–517
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guenther, Anton 1783 births 1863 deaths People from Cvikov German Bohemian people Austrian philosophers Catholic philosophers Charles University alumni Austrian people of German Bohemian descent Liberal Catholicism Fundamental theologians