Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Alethophile
(1,016 words)

1. Terminology

Etymologically, alethophiles are “friends” or “lovers” (Greek phíloi) of “truth” (Greek alḗtheia). In the early modern period, authors repeatedly published under the pseudonym Alethophilus in the context of various controversies in order to present their concerns onomastically. In the 18th century, the alethophiles were popularized by the Enlightenment philosopher  Christian Wolff (1679-1754), who identified his readership in the titles of …

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Straßberger, Andres, “Alethophile”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_016700>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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