At a time when German philosophy was dominated by idealism, German philosopher and physician Ludwig B chner (1824-99) wrote Kraft und Stoff, an influential work advocating materialism, in 1855. It went through many editions and was widely read across the world. The controversy surrounding the book led to B chner leaving his post at the University of T bingen, but he went on to establish the German Freethinkers' League, the first German organisation...