Marcus, Ernst, 1856-1928

Ernst Marcus was born September 3, 1856, in Kamen in Westphalia. He studied law in Bonn and Berlin. In 1889 he started becoming engaged in philosophical questions. At this time he worked professionally as an assessor. In 1890 he became a judge in Essen. He married Berta Auerbach in 1893, and they had three children. In 1899 he started meeting with the philosopher Salomo Friedlaender. Very early, Friedlaender became aware of Ernst Marcus's potential and the relevance of his ideas. He supported him and admired his theses. When Friedlaender published under the pseudonym Mynona he even used Marcus as a figure called "Sucram". In 1904 Ernst Marcus met Rebecca Hanf, who was interested in philosophy as well. They became friends and corresponded until Marcus’s death. Due to the discussions they had, Rebecca Hanf regarded their relationship later as a friendship between a willing teacher and an open-minded student. Ernst Marcus wrote many books that are also preserved in the LBI library.

Philosophically, Ernst Marcus dealt with Immanuel Kant's and Albert Einstein's theories. Ernst Marcus regarded himself as the "one who resurrected Kant from death and who understood Kant utterly." He emphasized that all his knowledge about philosophy and its analysis he taught himself and in a university. Ernst Marcus died in Essen on October 29, 1928.

From the guide to the Ernst Marcus Collection, 1899-1976, bulk 1900-1928, (Leo Baeck Institute)