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Ernest RenanFrench historian and philosopher.
Date of Birth: 27.02.1823
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Ernest Renan
Joseph Ernest Renan was born on February 27, 1823, in Tréguier, Brittany. Originally intending to become a priest, Renan entered the small seminary in Paris and later the major seminary of St. Sulpice. However, in 1845, he lost his faith and left the seminary to continue his education at the Sorbonne. Renan described this restless period of his life in his memoirs "Souvenirs of Childhood and Youth" (1883), which includes the famous passage known as the "Prayer on the Acropolis."
Early Career
In 1848, Renan wrote the book "The Future of Science" (published in 1890), proclaiming his faith in science and stating, "Science is the only religion...only science can solve all problems and eventually replace religion." In 1850, he was appointed as a librarian at the National Library, and in 1860, he led an archaeological expedition to Palestine. By this time, Renan had become an authoritative expert in Eastern languages and the history of religions.
Academic Achievements
In 1852, Renan defended his doctoral dissertation on "Averroes and Averroism." He later published the 8-volume "History of the Origins of Christianity" (1863-1883), where he developed his rationalistic criticism, particularly in the first volume "The Life of Jesus" (1863) when explaining the miracles performed by Jesus. This work caused a scandal among French Catholics but showed Renan's sympathy towards the personality of Jesus. He was less favorable towards the apostle Paul in "Saint Paul" (1869), expressing disdain for him and holding him responsible for the deviation of Christianity from Jesus' gentle teachings.
Later Years
In 1862, Renan was appointed as a professor of Hebrew language at the Collège de France, but was dismissed a year later due to his heretical views. However, after the fall of Napoleon III, he regained his position in 1871. Towards the end of his life, Renan's enthusiasm for science waned. He was no longer certain that science could find solutions to all problems, and this skepticism was evident in his work "Philosophical Dialogues and Fragments" (1876), which reflected his pantheistic concepts influenced by German philosophy, particularly the works of Hegel.
Legacy
Renan had a significant influence on the generation of the 1870s. He passed away in Paris on October 2, 1892.
