Feuerbach, Ludwig Andreas (1804–1872)

German philosopher who argued that religion is the elevation of human qualities into an object of worship. His main work is Das Wesen des Christentums/The Essence of Christianity 1841. He influenced political theorist Karl Marx.

Feuerbach was born in Landshut, Bavaria. He studied philosophy under G W F Hegel in Berlin, but abandoned Hegel's idealism for a form of materialism. He also studied theology and science. Das Wesen des Christentums was translated into English by novelist George Eliot 1854.