Adam Weishaupt

Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher, professor of law, and founder of the Illuminati.

Philosopher

February 6, 1748

November 18, 1830

82

Johann Adam Weishaupt (6 February 1748 – 18 November 1830) was a German philosopher and professor of civil and canon law, best known for founding the secret society, the Illuminati. He also authored the influential manifesto, “The Illuminati Manifesto,” which detailed the organization’s objectives and principles. Weishaupt was involved in various other endeavors, including working with the Bavarian government, the Order of Perfectibilists, and the Academy of Munich.

Apart from his association with the Illuminati, Weishaupt was a prolific writer, covering diverse subjects such as pedagogy, agriculture, and China’s economy. He also translated several works from French to German, including Voltaire’s “Philosophical Dictionary.”

Weishaupt’s ideas and the Illuminati have inspired numerous conspiracy theories and have been featured in popular novels and films. Although many people believe that the Illuminati control the world, Weishaupt’s actual intentions were to encourage rational thinking and diminish the sway of religious and governmental institutions. Scholars and philosophers continue to study and debate his ideas today. A notable aspect of Adam Weishaupt’s life is his founding of the Illuminati, a clandestine society created to counter religious influence on society.