Abstract
Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff is widely regarded as the ‘founder’ of early economics in Germany, of Cameralism. Having survived the horrors of the Thirty Years’ War and the resulting economic, political, and moral breakdown of society, Seckendorff conceived of a holistic science of public administration fit to reconstruct the more than 300 independent German principalities recognized by the Peace of Westphalia. The science he envisioned was both theoretical and practical, covering all the needs of a small principality. The same union of active and contemplative characterizes Seckendorff’s own life, as he devoted himself both to administrating the Court of Gotha and the University of Halle, both to write an “owner’s handbook” to small principalities and one of the most celebrated defenses of Lutheranism. This introduction will explore how these many facets came together in the figure of Seckendorff, what his main influences were, and how the historical context helped shape his writings.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Child, J. (1668). Brief Observations Concerning Trade and Interest of Money London: Calvert and Mortlock.
Child, J. (1681). A Treatise Concerning the East-India Trade London: Printed for the Honorable East India Company.
Gasser, S. P. (1729). Einleitung zu den Oeconomischen Politischen und Cameral-Wissenschaften Halle: Verlegung des Waysenhauses.
Hörnigk, P. W. von (1684). Österreich über alles wenn es nur will no place, no publisher.
Inama-Sternegg, K. T. von. (1864). “Die volkswirtschaftlichen Folgen des Dreißigjährigen Krieges für Deutschland.” Historisches Taschenbuch.4.F. 5
Jacobsen, R. (2002). “Die Brüder Seckendorff und ihre Beziehungen zu Sachsen-Gotha.” Jacobsen & Ruge (2002:95-120).
Jacobsen, R. & Ruge H.-J. (eds.). 2002. Ernst der Fromme (1601–1675). Staatsman und Reformer. Wissenschaftliche Beiträge und Katalog zur Ausstellung Bucha bei Jena: Quartus.
Klinger, A. (2002). Der Gothaer Fürstenstaat- Herrschaft, Konfession und Dynastie unter Herzog Ernst dem Frommen Husum: Matthiesen Verlag.
Laspeyeres, E. (1863/1961). Geschichte der volkswirtschaftlichen Anschauungen der Niederländer und Ihrer Literatur zur Zeit der Republik Niewkoop, de Graaf (reprint).
Lüdtke, W. (1939). “Vitus von Säckendorff als deutscher Staatsmann und Volkserzieher des 17. Jahrhunderts.” Jahrbuch der Akademie zu Erfurt Erfurt: Villaret.
Müller, V. (1967). Karl Theodor von Inama-Sternegg- Ein Leben für Staat und Wissenschaft Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades an der philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Wien.
Perrotta, C. (1993). “Early Spanish Mercantilism: The First Analysis of Underdevelopment.” In L. Magnusson (ed.), Mercantilist Economics Boston: Kluwer.
Reinert, E. S. (2004). “Benchmarking Success: The Dutch Republic (1500–1750). as seen by contemporary European Economists.” In E. Reinert (ed.), How Rich Nations got Rich. Essays in the History of Economic Policy,SUM Working Paper 2004.01, University of Oslo, Centre for Development and the Environment.
Reinert, E. S. (forthcoming 2005). “German Economics as Development Economics: From the ‘Thirty Years’ War’ to World War II.” In K. S. Jomo and E. S. Reinert (ed.), Origins of Development Economics London: Zed Books.
Reinert, E. S. & Daastøl, A. (1997). “Exploring the Genesis of Economic Innovations. The Religious Gestalt-switch and the Duty to Invent as Preconditions for Economic Growth.” European Journal of Law and Economics 233–283.
Reinert, E. S. & Reinert, S. A. (2003). “An Early National Innovation System: The Case of Antonio Serra’s 1613 Breve Trattato.” Institutions and Economic Development/Istituzioni e Sviluppo Economico 1(3).
Reinert, E. S. & Reinert, S. A. (forthcoming, 2005). “Mercantilism and Economic Development: Schumpeterian Dynamics, Institution Building and International Benchmarking.” In K. S. Jomo and E. S. Reinert (ed.), Originsof Development Economics London: Zed Books.
Roscher, W. (1868). “Der sächsische Nationalökonom Johann Heinrich Gottlob von Justi.” Archiv für Sächsische Geschichte.76–106.
Small, A. (1909). The Cameralists: The Pioneers of German Social Polity New York: Burt Franklin.
Stolleis, Michael (ed.) (1995). Staatsdenker der frühen Neuzeit Munich: Beck.
Strauch, S. (2002). “Ernst der Fromme und Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff- zwei Kämpfer für das Luthertum.” Jacobsen & Rugepp. 127–135.
Walde, O. (1930). Storhetstidens Litterära Krigsbyten. En Kulturhistorisk Bibliografisk Studie Uppsala: Almqvist & Wicksell.
Wandel, U. J. (2002). “Herzog Ernsts Schiffahrts- und Kanalpläne.” Jacobsen & Rugepp. 227–248.
Wolff, C. (1750). The Real Happiness of a People under a Philosopher King London: M. Cooper.
Yates (1999). The Rosicrucian Enlightenment London: Routledge.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reinert, E.S. A Brief Introduction to Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff (1626–1692). Eur J Law Econ 19, 221–230 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-005-6633-y
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-005-6633-y