Magnus Hundt
Magnus Hundt was born at Magdeburg in 1449 and died in Meissen in 1519. He is a renowned German theologian, physician and philosopher of high repute. In joint collaboration with Otto Casmann, Hundt is generally regarded as one of the founders of contemporary anthropology, by the scientific community. As a matter of fact, the term was jointed coined and in due course popularized by both of them.
Starting his studies at the ripe age of 33years in Leipzig, Hundt received his Baccalaureate two years later. In 1487, which was the year when he received an advanced degree, he was given an appointment as the Dean for the Faculty of Arts. Following a progressive career, he was given the post of Rector at the University. During some point of his illustrious career, Hundt is said to have also served as the personal physician for Count Joachimsthal. Nevertheless, his personal interest went far beyond medicine. Thus, he earned a doctorate degree in theology in 1510 and consequently occupied a chair in this subject at the University of Meissen, a location to which the University of Leipzig was relocated after the plague.
Lifetime Contributions
The most outstanding lifetime work of Magnus Hundt is known as The Anthropoligium in short, or by its complete title of Antropologium de hominis dignitate, natura, et proprietatibus, de elementis, partibus et membris humani corporis. This extraordinary work was published in 1501 at Leipzig. It perfectly serves to expound the human body, not just anatomically or physiologically, but also religiously and philosophically. He lays particular emphasis on the belief that humans are specially created in God’s own image and thus symbolize the microcosm of a world just as it was created by God. The main point of interest is that this work contains the first ever proper use of ‘anthropology’ as a technical term.
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