Jakob Bohme (24 April 1575 – 17 November 1624) was a German philosopher, Christian mystic, and Lutheran theologian. His unconventional ideas influenced later thinkers, including German idealists and Romantics. Hegel even called him "the first German philosopher". Bohme’s writings explored the nature of God, good and evil, and the role of free will in human existence.
Born in Alt Seidenberg (now in Poland), Bohme worked as a shoemaker in Gorlitz. He had his first mystical vision in 1600, in which he saw the spiritual structure of the universe. This experience shaped his philosophy, leading him to believe that the world is a battlefield of opposing forces, where good and evil coexist to bring about divine harmony. In 1612, he wrote Aurora, his first book, which led to accusations of heresy by local clergy. Forbidden to publish, he ceased writing for years but resumed in 1618, producing The Three Principles of the Divine Essence, The Signature of All Things, and Mysterium Magnum.
Bohme’s ideas attracted a following across Europe, influencing mystical and esoteric traditions, as well as poets like William Blake. He believed that spiritual enlightenment required overcoming suffering and understanding divine opposites. His work remained controversial, but he was accepted in Dresden by scholars and nobility.
Bohme died in 1624 in Gorlitz, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to inspire philosophy, theology, and mysticism.