- Friedrich Paulsen
Friedrich Paulsen (*
July 16 ,1846 - †August 14 ,1908 ), Germanphilosopher andeducator , was born at Langenhorn (Schleswig ) and educated atErlangen ,Bonn andBerlin , where he became extraordinary professor of philosophy andpedagogy in 1878. In 1896 he succeededEduard Zeller as professor of moral philosophy at Berlin.He was the greatest of the pupils of
Gustav Theodor Fechner , to whose doctrine ofpanpsychism he gave great prominence by his "Einleitung in die Philosophie" (1892; 7th ed., 1900; Eng. trans., 1895). He went, however, considerably beyond Fechner in attempting to give anepistemological account of the knowledge of the psychophysical. AdmittingKant 's hypothesis that by inner sense we are conscious of mental states only, he holds that this consciousness constitutes a knowledge of thething-in-itself which Kant denies. Soul is, therefore, a practical reality which Paulsen, withSchopenhauer , regards as known by the act of will. But this will is neither rational desire, unconscious irrational will, nor conscious intelligent will, but an instinct, a will to live (Zielstrebigkeit), often subconscious, pursuing ends, indeed, but without reasoning as to means. This conception of will, though consistent and convenient to the main thesis, must be rigidly distinguished from the ordinary significance of will, i.e. rational desire. [Concerning will, he did influence namely his student and later friend, the German founder of sociology,Ferdinand Tönnies .] Paulsen is almost better known for his educational writings than as a pure philosopher. His "German Education, Past and Present" (Eng. trans., by I. Lorenz, 1907) is a work of great value.Among his other works are:
*"Versuch einer Entwickelunggeschichte der Kantischen Erkenntnistheorie" (Leipzig, 1875);
*"Im. Kant" (1898, 1899);
*"Gründung, Organisation und Lebensordnungen der deutschen Universitäten im Mittelalter" (in S"ybels Histor. Zeitschr." vol. xlv. 1881);
* "Geschichte des gelehrten Unterrichts auf den deutschen Schulen und Universitäten" (1885, 1896);
* "System der Ethik " (1889, 1899; Eng. Trans.)External links
* [http://www.defendingsteiner.com/articles/rs-treitsschke.php Rudolf Steiner and Heinrich von Treitschke ] at www.defendingsteiner.com
* http://www.fps-niebuell.de/friedrichpaulsen_fps.htm [getting a 404 as of 1 January 2007]References
*1911
Notes
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