“The members’ sole purpose was to have a rational discussion of interesting things, especially in the sciences, in order to enlighten their minds by reciprocal, friendly exchange of ideas. [...] All the members were genuine friends of humankind” [2. 96]. This contemporary description of the Berlin Mittwochgesellschaft (“Wednesday Society”; 1783–1798) [5], which was also called the “Private Society of Friends of Erudition” or “Society of Friends of the En…