Swedenborg, Emanuel (1688–1772)
Swedish mystic and scientist, who, early in his career, wrote books on mathematics,
navigation, astronomy, chemistry, and mineralogy, and formulated a version
of the nebular hypothesis, though this
received little attention at the time. He then became convinced, through
a series of strange dreams in 1743–45, that he had been contacted
by spirits who described to him the existence of countless inhabited worlds.
In his Heavenly Arcana he describes a visionary trip to the planets
and recounts being told that on Venus there
were two races, one gentle and humane, the other savage and cruel, while
on Mars lived the noblest creatures in the
solar system, resembling in piety the early Christians. Thereafter, Swedenborg
devoted his life to expounding his revelations in works such as The New
Jerusalem (1758).
Related category
• PHILOSOPHY
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia
of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia
of History
BACK TO TOP
|
