Quote of the Day: Lichtenberg on Truth and Satire

 

“Truth comes from the mouths of fools and children: I wish every good mind which feels an inclination for satire would reflect that the finest satirist always has something of both in him.” — Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

Lichtenberg was an eighteenth-century scientist who spent most of his life in the Holy Roman Empire. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. When he was about twenty-one, he was granted tuition from his local ruler to go to the nearby University of Göttingen, which was in the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, one of the domains of George III. (The king/elector sent several of his sons to study at the University of Göttingen.) Lichtenberg spent the rest of his life there as student and professor with the exception of a couple of trips to England (one of George III’s other domains). He is probably best remembered today due to Lichtenberg figures, traces of paths left by electricity that are named for him. These are often seen in people who have been struck by lightning, for instance.

Lichtenberg could have taught Roy Moore a few things on the art of loving younger women, but in the Eighteenth Century, nobody seemed to care if a sixteen-year-old girl moved in with a thirty-eight-year-old man who had known her for three years.

Then there were his satirical activities. Most of these were aimed at other scientists or pseudo-scientists. There was, for instance, one Jacob Philadelphia, who billed himself as a scientist, although most of what he did was sketchy stuff, and much also would have fit in the realm of entertainment. Lichtenberg produced a poster of the extravagant wonders that would be seen at Philadelphia’s show, and Philadelphia left Göttingen without gracing the city with one of his performances.

A fool. A child. A child-like fool. A scientist. A philosopher. And a very naughty boy. Lichtenberg was an interesting figure in history.

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  1. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    A QotD by Arahant! Yet more proof that Ricochet’s best writing talents aren’t shy about mixing it up with the rest of us. 

    • #1
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    From Wikipedia’s article on Lichtenberg:

    His father, Johann Conrad Lichtenberg, was a pastor ascending through the ranks of the church hierarchy, who eventually became superintendent for Darmstadt. Unusually for a clergyman in those times, he seems to have possessed a fair amount of scientific knowledge. 

    Wikipedia is fine, as long as you keep in mind that it it by and large written and edited by ahistorical boobs.

    • #2
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Percival (View Comment):
    Wikipedia is fine, as long as you keep in mind that it it by and large written and edited by ahistorical boobs.

    Yep. Know where they are likely to go wrong.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Hey, @vectorman, aren’t you claiming this one?

     

    • #4
  5. Vectorman Inactive
    Vectorman
    @Vectorman

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Hey, @vectorman, aren’t you claiming this one?

    Been busy today. You’re linked on the July Signup Sheet.


    The Quote of the Day series is the easiest way to start a fun conversation on Ricochet. We have many days available in July. We even include tips for finding great quotes, so choose your favorite quote and sign up today!

    • #5
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