The 7th of September 2013 was a significant day from a point of view of the public manifestation of the history of philosophy: the reconstructed monument of the eighteenth-century Jewish philosopher Salomon Maimon [Salomon ben Jehoshua] (1753–1800) was unveiled in Kożuchów (Lower Silesia, Poland). The unveiled memorial of Maimon is the only one worldwide.

That event was significant on a number of dimensions:

First, it commemorated the person that was influential in philosophy in general: Maimon was the representative of epistemological rationalism. Secondly, it honoured a prominent representative of European philosophy. Thirdly, it memorialized an important representative of a German philosophical system: Maimon was in fact Kantian, Kant’s critic, and the representative of transcendental idealism.Footnote 1 Fourthly, it celebrated a famous Jewish philosopher in Europe: Maimon was thoroughly educated in Jewish theology and theosophy and was thought to be a rabbi and a Talmudist. Fifthly, it honoured a major Polish thinker: Maimon was born in Sukoviborg, onetime a Polish town; nowadays in the Lithuanian territory. Sixthly, last but not least, it commemorated a freethinker and a critic of religion and religiosity in their non-rational manifestations.

The memorial now unveiled is one that had been reconstructed. Originally it was erected in the first half of the 19th century (most likely during the first quarter of the century) as is evident from its neoclassical style. It was constructed and now reconstructed in Kożuchów. More accurately, initially the monument was built in Podbrzezie Dolne [German: Nieder Siegersdorf], then in the country near Kożuchów. Maimon spent his last years in Podbrzezie Dolne: from 1796 to his death in 1800 Maimon lived in the Podbrzezian palace of count Hans Wilhelm Adolf von Kalkcreuth (1766–1830), whom he had met in Berlin. Count von Kalckreuth decided, after Maimon had passed away, to honour his dear friend, his life and his stay in Podbrzezie Dolne by having the memorial on the site of the count’s palatial park.

The sandstone columnar monument was destroyed after Second World War, most likely as a result of vandalism. Now it has been reconstructed and solemnly unveiled.

On the occasion of this event, a symposium, organised by the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Ziemi Kożuchowskiej [=The Fellowship of Friends of the Kożuchów Land], was held. The conference was titled: Wpływ wybitnych postaci na rozwój Ziemi Lubuskiej w okresie od XV do XVIII w. [=The influence of prominent persons on the development of the Lubuskie land from 15th to 18th century]. In the framework of the conference I presented the figure of Salomon Maimon commemorated by the monument and his mainly philosophical writings. I focused on the Podbrzezian period of Maimon’s life and his acquaintance with count Hans Wilhelm Adolf von Kalkcreuth, what has been a novum in presenting Maimon in academic literatureFootnote 2 and not only there.

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On the left: Zdzisław Szukiełowicz, President of the Fellowship of Friends of the Kożuchów Land

On the Right: Eleonora Bergman, Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw.

Photographer: Zbigniew Załuski.

The reconstructed memorial of Salomon Maimon

Kożuchów (Lower Silesia, Poland)

Unveiling on the 7th September 2013