Louis Claude de Saint-Martin (1743–1803) was a French philosopher, Christian mystic, and writer, known as “Le Philosophe Inconnu” (“The Unknown Philosopher.”) His works on spirituality, illuminism, and esoteric philosophy influenced Martinism, a mystical tradition.
Born in Amboise, he initially pursued law and military service before meeting Martinez de Pasqually, a Jewish mystic who introduced him to theurgical practices. He later distanced himself from Pasqually’s ritualism, favoring inner spiritual transformation.
Notable works include Des Erreurs et de la Vérité (1775, Errors and Truth,) critiquing rationalist philosophy; L’Homme de Désir (1790, The Man of Desire,) a mystical reflection on divine longing; and Le Nouvel Homme (1792, The New Man,) exploring spiritual regeneration. Other works include Considérations sur la Révolution Française (1795, Considerations on the French Revolution,) Le Crocodile (1798, The Crocodile,) an allegorical poem, and L’Esprit des Choses (1800, The Spirit of Things,) examining metaphysical existence.
Saint-Martin was deeply influenced by Jakob Böhme, a German mystic, whose writings shaped his later philosophy.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Louis Claude de Saint-Martin
All mystics speak the same language, for they come from the same country.
—Louis Claude de Saint-Martin
Leave a Reply