Les illusions perdues. Süssmilch, l’Académie de Berlin et Frédéric II : échec d’une politique de population

• Main Author: Jean-Marc Rohrbasser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centre de Recherche du Château de Versailles 2006-03-01
• Series: Bulletin du Centre de Recherche du Château de Versailles
• Subjects: Académie royale des sciences et des lettres de Berlin; démographie; Christian Wolff; Frédéric II de Prusse; Johann Peter Süssmilch; théologie
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/crcv/11525

After publishing the first version of his masterpiece The Divine order in the changes in the human sex from birth, death and reproduction of the same in 1741, the pastor Süssmilch, joined the Prussian Academy of Sciences. The book presented a particular application of a doctrine then in vogue: natural theology. According to Süssmilch, demographic phenomena such as birth, marriage and death are governed by divine will and providence. At the Academy, Süssmilch read many papers on the history of Prussia, the origins of language, and his favourite subject: explaining demographic phenomena by statistical regularity, itself the work of God.This paper’s purpose is to try and explain why Süssmilch, a Lutheran pastor, did not become, as he thought he could and aspired to be, an advisor to the prince. The pastor openly declared his opinions of specific practices and even policies. His social position and his research on population made him a potential member of the Frederician state. Nonetheless he remained a high official in the hierarchy of the Lutheran church. How is that to be explained?Having briefly described Süssmilch’s scholarly activity at the Academy, how it was received and how the knowledge he was trying to introduce was diffused, I will show a situation favourable to his political designs that seemed to govern his career. In effect, Süssmilch arrived at the right time: he was only five years older than Frederick II, whose ascension coincided with the beginning of the pastor’s career. The circumstances were favourable, and Süssmilch indicated the usefulness of his research, emphasizing its political significance.I will then explain how the king and the pastor were in agreement. The views of Süssmilch and Frederick II seemed to have converged on several points, none unimportant: first was that politics is a matter of proportion; then on the question of political freedom; and finally on the theory that the risks of political reality do not question metaphysical necessitarianism. Süssmilch, a disciple of philosopher Christian Wolff, who the sovereign liked, advocated a probalistic policy that had nothing to displease the king. Additionally, the pastor and Frederick recognized that the good of the people requires a good population. In conclusion, I will explain what justifies the title “lost illusions” that I’ve given this paper, detailing the points of disagreement between the scholar and the prince. Religion is the fundamental area: Frederick II’s mistrust of theologians certainly did not spare Süssmilch. Then when the pastor does try to advise the prince, it reminds him that he actually exercises power: a case study will show this concretely. Thus through this case we demonstrate what is meant by an “enlightened despot”, this curious Enlightenment concept.