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Kurnig

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Kurnig (fl. 1894–1918) is the hitherto unresolved pseudonym of a writer and activist who published several works in German and French on topics including anti-militarism, sexology, philosophy, and education.

Philosophy

An outspoken atheist heavily influenced by the philosophical pessimism of Arthur Schopenhauer, Kurnig advocated for a complete abstention from procreation and for voluntary human extinction.[1] After writing a number of pamphlets both in German and in French soliciting support for his campaign,[2] Kurnig published three short books on the topic in the publishing house of Max Spohr in Leipzig, which were republished in a slightly enlarged and revised version in his 1901 main work Der Neo-Nihilismus.[3] At the time, Kurnig's works were actively discussed in a number of scientific journals as well as in the early LGBT scene (including by Magnus Hirschfeld[4] and in the Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen[5]), but were mostly received negatively and banned in some parts of the world.[6][7]

Kurnig is now considered to be one of the first modern antinatalists.[4] Les U. Knight of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement referred to Kurnig as the actual "founder" of VHEMT.[8]

Educational project

Through a series of "Correspondences", which were sent out first from Karlsruhe, Germany, later from Zürich, Switzerland, and distributed around the world, Kurnig also campaigned for pacifism and for the creation of an international Educational Consulting Centre. Along with people like Ferenc Kemény [hu], with whom he personally corresponded, Kurnig is recognized as one of the forerunners of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education.[4]

Works

  • (as Quartus:) Völkerbund, nicht: Völkerkrieg. Ein Blick in die pädagogische Anarchie der Gegenwart zugleich als Beitrag zur nihilistischen Weltanschauung (im Sinne Schopenhauers). Basel: Schweizerische Verlags-Druckerei 1894. 40 pp. (Scan available at MDZ)
  • Entvölkerung der Erde. Das Nichtsein nach dem Tode. Ein neu-nihilistisches Glaubensbekenntnis und Programm. 1896. 4 pp.
  • Nouvelle Appréciation de l'Instinct Sexuel (Pessimisme – Jurisprudence – Psychiatrie). 1896. 12 pp.
  • Philosophie Pratique : Principes de nihilisme humanitaire. Néo-Nihilisme. 1896. 4 pp.
  • Das Sexualleben und der Pessimismus. Leipzig: Max Spohr 1897. II + 46 pp.
  • Das Sexualleben und der Pessimismus. II. Neue Beiträge zu Kurnig's Neo-Nihilismus. Dialoge und Fragmente. Leipzig: Max Spohr 1898. II + 45 pp.
  • Der Pessimismus der Anderen. Pessimistische „Geflügelte Worte“ und Citate. Leipzig: Max Spohr 1899. VIII + 28 pp.
  • In Sachen: Kurnig's Neo-Nihilismus 1900. 19 pp. (Scan available at SLUB Dresden)
  • Der Neo-Nihilismus. Anti-Militarismus – Sexualleben (Ende der Menschheit.). 2. vermehrte Auflage. Leipzig: Max Spohr 1901. VIII + 192 pp. (in Fraktur) — contains:
    • Völkerbund, nicht: Völkerkrieg (1894) (= Anti-Militarismus)
    • Das Sexualleben und der Pessimismus I (1897)
    • Das Sexualleben und der Pessimismus II (1898)
    • In Sachen: Kurnig's Neo-Nihilismus 1900
    • Der Pessimismus der Anderen (1899)
  • Der Neo-Nihilismus. Anti-Militarismus – Sexualleben (Ende der Menschheit.). 2. vermehrte Auflage. Leipzig: Max Sängewald / Heilbronn: Schell'sche Buchdruckerei, Viktor Kraemer 1903. VIII + 192 + 32 pp. — contains:
    • Der Neo-Nihilismus (1901)
    • In Sachen Kurnig's Neo-Nihilismus. Kritik und Replik 1902
  • Internationale Ratgebende Pädagogische Centralstelle (Entwurf Kurnig, 1904) / Centre Consultant Pédagogique international (Projet Kurnig, 1904). Heilbronn: Schell'sche Buchdruckerei, Viktor Kraemer. 18 pp.
  • Correspondenzen / Correspondances. Karlsruhe: Doering'sche Buchdruckerei / Zürich: Jean Frey [de], ca. 1904–1918.

Notes

  1. ^ Wolf 2006, p. 24–25.
  2. ^ Ronsin 1980, p. 118–119.
  3. ^ Lehmstedt 2002, p. 218, 228, 236.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference FOOTNOTE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Wilhelm 1903, p. 488–490.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Börsenblatt1900a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Börsenblatt1900b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference QuestionMark2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Citations

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Bibliography

  • Akerma, Karim (2015). "Exodus aus dem Sein. Kurnigs Neo-Nihilismus als buddhistisch säkularisierter Geist des frühen Christentums". Tabula Rasa (in German). Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  • Akerma, Karim (2020). "Kurnig and His Neo-Nihilism: The First Modern Antinatalist". In Lochmanová, Kateřina (ed.). History of Antinatalism: How Philosophy Has Challenged the Question of Procreation. Independently Published. pp. 125–145. ISBN 9798645624255.
  • Rosselló, Pedro (1943). Les Précurseurs du Bureau international d'éducation: un aspect inédit de l'histoire de l'éducation et des institutions internationales (in French). Genève: Bureau international d'éducation.
  • Rosselló, Pedro (1944). Forerunners of the International Bureau of Education: A hitherto unrecorded aspect of the history of Education and of International Institutions. Translated by Butts, Marie. London: University of London / Evans Brothers.

See also

Category:19th-century philosophers Category:Anti-natalists Category:Philosophers of education Category:Philosophers of pessimism Category:Political philosophers

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