Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer (1766–1848) was a German theologian, religious philosopher and Protestant education reformer who was a native of Württemberg
.
He received instruction at the Maulbronn monastery
, and in 1784 became a student at Tübinger Stift
, where he met Friedrich Hölderlin
(1770–1843), Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
(1770–1831) and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
(1775–1854). In 1790 he moved to Jena
, where he studied Kantian philosophy
under Karl Leonhard Reinhold
(1757–1823). Subsequently he became an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Jena, where he remained until 1804. In 1806 he was Protestant Oberschulkommissar (Upper School Administrator) of Franconia
, and in 1807 became Central Commissioner of Education and Consistory of Bavaria
.
In 1797 with Johann Gottlieb Fichte
(1762–1814), Niethammer was co-editor of the Philosophische Journal. In 1798 the journal published Friedrich Karl Forberg
's Entwicklung des Begriffs der Religion (Development of the Concept of Religion), which sparked the 1798-99 Atheismusstreit (Controversy of Atheism), and led to Fichte's 1799 departure from Jena, largely due to his defense of Forberg's controversial essay.
in 1808 Niethammer published Der Streit des Philanthropinismus und des Humanismus in der Theorie des Erziehungs-Unterrichts unsrer Zeit (The Dispute between Philanthropinism and Humanism in the Educational Theory of our Time), which was a reaction to philanthropinism, an educational concept that was developed during the Age of Enlightenment
. Philanthropinism valued practical and physical education, and largely rejected rote-learning of the classics. Niethammer agreed with the philanthropinists in that a measure of autonomy was important in education, but found their teaching philosophy too extreme. He believed that a sense of civics
and civility were vital in a childs' education, and made efforts to combine the best of philanthropinism with the best of "humanism
", a word that he derived from Cicero
's "humanitas
".
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
.
He received instruction at the Maulbronn monastery
Evangelical Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren
The Protestant Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren in Baden-Württemberg, Germany are two Gymnasiums and Protestant boarding schools in the Württemberg tradition....
, and in 1784 became a student at Tübinger Stift
Tübinger Stift
The Tübinger Stift is a hall of residence and teaching; it is owned and supported by the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg, and located in the university city of Tübingen, in South West Germany. The Stift was originally founded as an Augustinian monastery in the Middle Ages...
, where he met Friedrich Hölderlin
Friedrich Hölderlin
Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin was a major German lyric poet, commonly associated with the artistic movement known as Romanticism. Hölderlin was also an important thinker in the development of German Idealism, particularly his early association with and philosophical influence on his...
(1770–1843), Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher, one of the creators of German Idealism. His historicist and idealist account of reality as a whole revolutionized European philosophy and was an important precursor to Continental philosophy and Marxism.Hegel developed a comprehensive...
(1770–1831) and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling , later von Schelling, was a German philosopher. Standard histories of philosophy make him the midpoint in the development of German idealism, situating him between Fichte, his mentor prior to 1800, and Hegel, his former university roommate and erstwhile friend...
(1775–1854). In 1790 he moved to Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
, where he studied Kantian philosophy
Kantianism
Kantianism is the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher born in Königsberg, Prussia . The term Kantianism or Kantian is sometimes also used to describe contemporary positions in philosophy of mind, epistemology, and ethics.-Ethics:Kantian ethics are deontological, revolving entirely...
under Karl Leonhard Reinhold
Karl Leonhard Reinhold
Karl Leonhard Reinhold was an Austrian philosopher. He was the father of Ernst Reinhold, also a philosopher.-Life:...
(1757–1823). Subsequently he became an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Jena, where he remained until 1804. In 1806 he was Protestant Oberschulkommissar (Upper School Administrator) of Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
, and in 1807 became Central Commissioner of Education and Consistory of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
In 1797 with Johann Gottlieb Fichte
Johann Gottlieb Fichte
Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a German philosopher. He was one of the founding figures of the philosophical movement known as German idealism, a movement that developed from the theoretical and ethical writings of Immanuel Kant...
(1762–1814), Niethammer was co-editor of the Philosophische Journal. In 1798 the journal published Friedrich Karl Forberg
Friedrich Karl Forberg
Friedrich Karl Forberg was a German philosopher and classical scholar.- Biography :He studied under Karl Leonhard Reinhold at Jena...
's Entwicklung des Begriffs der Religion (Development of the Concept of Religion), which sparked the 1798-99 Atheismusstreit (Controversy of Atheism), and led to Fichte's 1799 departure from Jena, largely due to his defense of Forberg's controversial essay.
in 1808 Niethammer published Der Streit des Philanthropinismus und des Humanismus in der Theorie des Erziehungs-Unterrichts unsrer Zeit (The Dispute between Philanthropinism and Humanism in the Educational Theory of our Time), which was a reaction to philanthropinism, an educational concept that was developed during the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
. Philanthropinism valued practical and physical education, and largely rejected rote-learning of the classics. Niethammer agreed with the philanthropinists in that a measure of autonomy was important in education, but found their teaching philosophy too extreme. He believed that a sense of civics
Civics
Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government....
and civility were vital in a childs' education, and made efforts to combine the best of philanthropinism with the best of "humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
", a word that he derived from Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
's "humanitas
Humanitas
The word humanitas was used by Cicero to describe the formation of an ideal speaker who he believed should be educated to possess a collection of virtues of character suitable for an active life of public service; these would include a fund of learning acquired from the study of bonae litterae ,...
".