A Brief Introduction to Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff (1626–1692)

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.     

At Shibuya Station

Having Just Strolled Down the Incline from Fumikho Maki's Serene Hillside Terrace Complex of Apartments and Shops, Architecture was on My Mind. Looking for a Place to Sit and Read the Morning Papers, I Followed the Aroma to a Caffesemlpreddo Near the Bustling Entrance of a Substation on the Shibuya Line. It must be the Attention to Detail, the High-Tech Machines or Perhaps the Quality of the Beans and Water, But I've Always Found the Best Coffee Outside of Italy in Japan.