Emile Boutroux
Encyclopedia
Étienne Émile Marie Boutroux (July 28, 1845 – November 22, 1921) was an eminent 19th century French
philosopher of science
and religion
, and an historian of philosophy
. He was a firm opponent of materialism
in science. He was a spiritual philosopher who defended the idea that religion and science are compatible at a time when the power of science was rising inexorably. His work is overshadowed in English by that of the more celebrated Henri Bergson
. He was elected membership of the Academy of Science in 1898 and in 1912 to the Académie française
.
, now in the Hauts-de-Seine
département, near Paris
. He attended the lycée Napoléon (now lycée Henri IV
), and graduated in 1865 to the École Normale Supérieure
. He then continued his education at Heidelberg University between 1869-1870 where he was taught by Hermann von Helmholtz
and encountered German philosophy.
His first employment was the post of philosophy professor at the lycée in Caen
. In 1874 he published his book on which he based his doctoral thesis. The Contingency of the laws of the nature was an analysis of the implications of Kantian
philosophy for science.
Between 1874-1876 Boutroux taught at the Faculty of Letters at the University of Nancy and while there he fell in love with and married Aline Poincaré the sister of the scientist and mathematician Henri Poincaré
. In 1880 his son, Pierre, was born. Pierre Boutroux
was himself to become a distinguished mathematician and historian of science.
In 1888 Boutroux was made professor of history of modern philosophy at the Sorbonne
in Paris.
He was elected a member of Academy of the Moral and Political Sciences in 1898 and in 1902 he became Director of the Thiers foundation, a residency for France's brightest students. He was elected to the Académie française in 1912.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
philosopher of science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and an historian of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He was a firm opponent of materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
in science. He was a spiritual philosopher who defended the idea that religion and science are compatible at a time when the power of science was rising inexorably. His work is overshadowed in English by that of the more celebrated Henri Bergson
Henri Bergson
Henri-Louis Bergson was a major French philosopher, influential especially in the first half of the 20th century. Bergson convinced many thinkers that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality.He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize...
. He was elected membership of the Academy of Science in 1898 and in 1912 to the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
.
Life
Émile Boutroux was born at MontrougeMontrouge
Montrouge is a commune in the southern Parisian suburbs, located from the center of Paris, France. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe...
, now in the Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
département, near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He attended the lycée Napoléon (now lycée Henri IV
Lycée Henri IV
The Lycée Henri-IV is a public secondary school located in Paris. Along with Louis-le-Grand it is widely regarded as one of the most demanding sixth-form colleges in France....
), and graduated in 1865 to the École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
. He then continued his education at Heidelberg University between 1869-1870 where he was taught by Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
and encountered German philosophy.
His first employment was the post of philosophy professor at the lycée in Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
. In 1874 he published his book on which he based his doctoral thesis. The Contingency of the laws of the nature was an analysis of the implications of Kantian
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
philosophy for science.
Between 1874-1876 Boutroux taught at the Faculty of Letters at the University of Nancy and while there he fell in love with and married Aline Poincaré the sister of the scientist and mathematician Henri Poincaré
Henri Poincaré
Jules Henri Poincaré was a French mathematician, theoretical physicist, engineer, and a philosopher of science...
. In 1880 his son, Pierre, was born. Pierre Boutroux
Pierre Boutroux
Pierre Léon Boutroux was a French mathematician and historian of science. Boutroux is chiefly known for his work in the history and philosophy of mathematics.-Biography:...
was himself to become a distinguished mathematician and historian of science.
In 1888 Boutroux was made professor of history of modern philosophy at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris.
He was elected a member of Academy of the Moral and Political Sciences in 1898 and in 1902 he became Director of the Thiers foundation, a residency for France's brightest students. He was elected to the Académie française in 1912.
Publications
Émile Boutroux' principal works are:- The Contingency Of The Laws Of The Nature, (1874)
- Greece Defeated By The Stoics, (1875)
- Socrates, Founder Of Moral Science, (1883)
- The Idea Of Natural Law In Science And Philosophy, (1895)
- Moral Questions and Education, (1897)
- Easter, (1900)
- The Philosophy of Fichte, (1902)
- Psychology of Mysticism, (1902)
- Science And Religion In Contemporary Philosophy, (1908)
External links
- Chronology of Boutroux' life and longer Bibliography from the University of Nancy, in French
- The Academie Francaise biography of Émile Boutroux in French.
- Gifford Lecture "Émile Boutroux,1845 - 1921, Professor of Philosophy, Sorbonne" Dr Michael W. DeLashmutt, University of Glasgow. Sponsored by Templeton Foundation. Accessed January 2007