LAVATER, JOHANN KASPAR. - Protestant writer and pastor, b. in Zurich on 15 Nov. 1741, d. there on 2 Jan. 1801. He formed his philosophical-religious culture on the texts of Zwingli, Leibniz and Rousseau. The influence of Enlightenment rationalism was then gradually attenuated by his overall pietist mysticism. Appointed deacon of the Zurich orphanage, then pastor at the church of St. Peter, he was a most remarkable orator.
His best-known works are: Geheimes Tagebuch von einem Beobachter seiner selbst (1771-73); Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung der Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe (1775-78). He applied the psychological method to physiognomic investigation, aiming to grasp, together with the characteristics of man, the motives for the elevation of the human creature to God. He also composed lyrical and epic poems of little importance; his literary work remains on the whole fragmentary, in part contradictory and of uncertain scientific foundation, which is attested, among other things, by the interest that L. had in occultism.
Bibliography6 worksCh. Steinbrucker, L. s Physiognomische Fragmente im Verhältnis zur bildenden Kunst, Berlin 1915; O. Guinaudeau, J. G. L., Paris 1924; C. Jan
BIBL.: Ch. Steinbrucker, L. s Physiognomische Fragmente im Verhältnis zur bildenden Kunst, Berlin 1915; O. Guinaudeau, J. G. L., Paris 1924; C. Janentzky, J. C. L., Frauenfeld 1928; E. v. Bracken, Die Selbstbeobachtung bei L., Münster in W. 1932; J. Forssmann, L. und die religiösen Strömungen des 18. Jh.s., Riga 1935; M. Sloman-Lavater, Genie des Herzens. Die Lebensgeschichte J. C. L.s., Zurich 1945.
Brunello, Bruno. “Lavater, johann kaspar.” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VII, col. 970. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1951. https://azioneromana.com/article/lavater-johann-kaspar.
MLA
Brunello, Bruno. “Lavater, johann kaspar.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VII, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1951, col. 970. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/lavater-johann-kaspar.
BibTeX
@incollection{ec7_lavater_johann_kaspar,
author = {Brunello, Bruno},
title = {Lavater, johann kaspar},
booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
volume = {VII},
pages = {970},
note = {Cited by column},
publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
address = {Città del Vaticano},
year = {1951},
url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/lavater-johann-kaspar}
}
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