The fifteen-volume work De demonstratione represents the rigorous intellectual output of a scholar who spent his entire professional life within the walls of the University of Tübingen. Born in 1511 at Schorndorf, the man known as Jakob Schegk became a permanent fixture of the faculty, teaching both medicine and philosophy until his death in 1587.
Early Development and University Entry
Born as Jakob Degen, he adopted the name Schegk for his adult life. A rapid progression in classical studies under Johann Thomas in Schorndorf preceded his entry to the University of Tübingen in 1527. By 1529, he held an M.A. degree and began delivering lectures at the age of twenty, marking the start of a tenure that lasted until his final days.
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Schegk expanded his academic reach through the administration of the Tübinger Stift, which allowed him to pursue theology and law before moving into medicine. In 1539, he earned his medical doctorate under the guidance of Leonhard Fuchs and Michael Rucker. By 1553, he transitioned to the medical faculty, yet the university maintained his philosophical output, granting him a dual commission in 1564 to lecture in both fields simultaneously.
Academic Disputes and Intellectual Legacy
His career was defined by formal debates, including a prolonged conflict with the Italian philosopher Simone Simoni and an engagement with Thomas Erastus regarding the nature of Christ's physical body. Schegk staunchly opposed the innovations of Petrus Ramus. Despite suffering total blindness by 1577, he continued his work. Hans Weber described him as the father and pioneer of Protestant Scholasticism, acknowledging his influence on students such as Nicolaus Taurellus and Andreas Planer.
Published Contributions
His 1585 collection, Tractationum physicarum et medicarum tomus unus, consolidated his medical and physical research. His 1577 work, Organi Aristotelei Pars prima eaq[ue] analytica, further solidified his reputation as an authoritative commentator on Aristotle.
Fast facts
- Born: 1511, Schorndorf
- Died: 1587, Tübingen
- Primary Employer: University of Tübingen
- Medical Doctorate: 1539
- Languages: German, Latin
- Notable Works: De demonstratione libri XV, Antisimonius
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Jakob Schegk teach?
He was a university teacher of both medicine and philosophy.
Did Schegk maintain his academic work after losing his sight?
Yes, he continued his academic career after becoming totally blind in 1577.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Tübingen