Johann Eduard Erdmann Article Index for
Johann
Website Links For
Johann
 

Information About

Johann Eduard Erdmann




Erdmann was born at Wolmar (now Valmiera , Latvia ).

He studied Theology at Dorpat (Tartu) and afterwards at Berlin , where he fell under the influence of Hegel . From 1829 to 1832 he was a minister of religion in his native town. Afterwards he devoted himself to philosophy, and qualified in that subject at Berlin in 1834. In 1836 he was professor-extraordinary at Halle , became full professor in 1839, and remained there till his death.

He published many philosophical text-books and treatises, and a number of sermons; but his chief claim to remembrance rests on his elaborate ''Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie'' (2 vols, 1866), the 3rd edition of which has been translated into English . Erdmann's special merit is that he does not rest content with being a mere summarizer of opinions, but tries to exhibit the history of human thought as a continuous and ever-developing effort to solve the great speculative problems with which man has been confronted in all ages. His chief other works were: ''Leib und Seele'' (1837), ''Grundriss der Psychologie'' (1840), ''Grundriss der Logik und Metaphysik'' (1841), and ''Psychologische Briefe'' (1851).


REFERENCES