Johan Robeck

Johan Robeck^[a] (1672–1739) was a Swedish-German theologian and philosopher who justified and committed suicide.

Life

Robeck was born in Kalmar, Sweden, and raised in the reformed religion. He studied in Uppsala, before going to Hildesheim in Germany, where he converted to Catholicism in 1704. He joined the Jesuits and lived in Rinteln, Westphalia.

He wrote a book permitting suicide from a theological point of view, entitled Exercitatio philosophica de morte voluntaria (A philosophical exercise about voluntary death, 1736). His book started a debate among Europeans of his time, which included Rousseau^[1] and Voltaire, especially after he himself committed suicide by drowning in the river Weser near Bremen, Germany. Robeck's argument is based upon the idea of life as a gift, given by God, who therefore gave up for his rights in the gift. Anyone can destroy a gift, according to Robeck's argument; therefore, suicide is legitimate.^[2]

In Voltaire's Candide

Robeck's suicide is referenced in the old woman's story at the end of chapter XII in Voltaire's 1759 novel Candide, "...but I have met only twelve who have voluntarily put an end to their misery—three negroes, four Englishmen, four Swiss, and a German professor called Robeck." The Penguin Classics edition of Candide features an introduction by Michael Wood, who explains that "Robeck was a historical person who argued that loving life was ridiculous and sought to prove his point by drowning himself in 1739".^[3]

Notes and References

^ Robeck's name is variously spelled as "Johann Robeck", "Johannis Robeck", "Johannes Robeck", "Iohannis Robeck", and "Iohannes Robeck".

^ J.J. Rousseau, Nouvelle Eloise, III, 21.
^ Otto Schmid, "Robeck, Johann." Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB), vol. 28, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1889, p. 717.
^ „J’ai vu dans les pays que le sort m’a fait parcourir, et dans les cabarets où j’ai servi, un nombre prodigieux de personnes qui avaient leur existence en exécration; mais je n’en ai vu que douze qui aient mis volontairement fin à leur misère, trois nègres, quatre Anglais, quatre Genevois, et un professeur allemand nommé Robeck.“ Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Avec Des Notes Et Une Notice Historique Sur La Vie De Voltaire. Vol. 8, Paris: Furne, 1846, 587.

Sources

Timothy J. Demy, Gary Stewart (1998). Suicide: a Christian response : crucial considerations for choosing life. Kregel Publications. ISBN 0-8254-2355-4.
RÓISÍN HEALY (2006). "Suicide in Early Modern and Modern Europe". The Historical Journal. 49 (3). Cambridge University Press; National University of Ireland, Galway: 903–919. doi:10.1017/S0018246X06005577. hdl:10379/4115. S2CID 27734440.