Karl Daub

Karl Daub (1765-1836) was a German Protestant theologian of the Hegelian school. Born in Kassel, he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Marburg. He later became professor of theology at Heidelberg in 1805, where he remained for the rest of his career.

Daub was initially a rationalist, but he gradually adopted a more speculative and philosophical approach to theology, heavily influenced by the philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel. He sought to reconcile faith and reason, arguing that Christianity was the ultimate expression of reason and that philosophy could illuminate the truths of religion.

His major works include Theological and Philosophical Essays (1808), Introduction to Christian Dogmatics (1810), Judas Iscariot or Darkness of Soul (1816-1818), and The Dogmatic Theology of the Present Standpoint (1833). Judas Iscariot is perhaps his most well-known work, exploring the psychological and theological dimensions of Judas' betrayal of Jesus.

Daub's work was influential in the development of Hegelian theology and contributed to the intellectual ferment of the early 19th century. He is considered a key figure in the transition from traditional Protestant theology to a more philosophical and speculative approach.