Quotes:Franck, Adolphe
Zirkoff, Boris
Franck, Adolphe (1809-1893). *La Kabbale, Paris, 1843. Engl, transi., Leipzig, 1844.
Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, p. 371
Franck, Adolphe. French-Jewish philosopher and writer, b. at Liocourt, Oct. 9, 1809; d. at Paris, April 11, 1893. Obtained first a secular education under Marchand Ennery, hoping to become a rabbi; failing to win a rabbinical scholarship, tried medicine, but at length found his proper field in philosophy. Became agrégé of philosophy in 1832; taught successively at Douai, Nancy, Versailles, and, 1840, at the Collège Charlemagne in Paris. In the same year, began series of lectures at the Sorbonne. Appointed, 1842, assistant Curator of the Bibliothèque Royale. After a visit to Italy, 1843, began his principal work, Dictionnaire des sciences philosophiques (1844-52, 6 Vols. 8vo; new ed., 1875; 3rd impr., 1885). Elected member of the Institut de France, 1844, for his Esquisse d’une histoire de la logique and his remarkable and important work entitled *La Kabbale, ou philosophie religieuse des Hébreux (Paris; Hachette, 1843. 8vo., iv, 412; 2nd ed., 1889. 8vo., vi, 314; 3rd ed., 1892; German transi, by A. Jellinek, Leipzig: H. Hunger, 1844. 8vo., xvi, 296).
Resuming his work at the Sorbonne, 1847, Franck started a course in social philosophy, and was soon asked by Barthélemy St.-Hilaire to take his place at the Collège de France. Affected by the political turmoil of the time, he became unsuccessful candidate for the deputyship of the Department of Meurthe. In 1856, became incumbant of the chair of natural and civil law, a position he held for thirty years. Franck also became president of the Anti-Atheist League, and took deep interest in the Society for the translation of the Scriptures, joining at its inauguration in 1866. He founded the journal Paix Sociale, wrote for the Journal des Débats, was one of the editors of the Journal des Savants, and contributed for some fifty years to the Archives Israélites. A patron of the Société des Études Juives, he became its president in 1888. He also served as representative of Judaism at the Conseil Supérieur de l’instruction Publique, resigning in 1874. He was one of the founders and presidents of the Ligue de la Paix. Franck’s scholarly work was early recognized, and he became Commander of the Légion d’Honneur in 1869. The revolution of 1870 prevented him from reaching the Senate, a position to which the emperor had wished to elevate him.
Other works: Paracelse et l’Alchimie au XVIme Siècle, Vaugirard, 1855; 2nd ed., 1875. — La Philosophie Mystique en France à la fin du XVIIIme Siècle: Saint Martin et son maître Martinez Pasqualis. Paris: G. Baillère, 1866, 228 pp. — Philosophie et Religion, Paris : Didier, 1867, xv, 451. — La Religion et la Science dans le Judaïsme, Versailles, 1883, 18 pp.
Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 11, p. 575