Heinrich Ritter
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Ritter was a German
philosopher.
He was born at Zerbst
, and studied philosophy and theology
at Göttingen and Berlin
until 1815. In 1824 he became extraordinary professor of philosophy at Berlin, later transferring to Kiel
, where he occupied the chair of philosophy from 1833 to 1837. He then accepted a similar position at the University of Göttingen, where he remained till his death. Friedrich Schleiermacher was a major influence in his thinking.
from 1829 to 1853. This book was the product of a wide and thorough knowledge of the subject aided by an impartial critical faculty, and its value was underscored by its translation into almost all the languages of Europe. He wrote also accounts of ancient schools of philosophy, such as the Ionians, the Pythagoreans
and the Megarians.
Beside these important historical works, he published a large number of treatises of which the following may be mentioned:
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
philosopher.
He was born at Zerbst
Zerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
, and studied philosophy and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Göttingen and Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
until 1815. In 1824 he became extraordinary professor of philosophy at Berlin, later transferring to Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
, where he occupied the chair of philosophy from 1833 to 1837. He then accepted a similar position at the University of Göttingen, where he remained till his death. Friedrich Schleiermacher was a major influence in his thinking.
Works
Ritter's chief work was a history of philosophy (Geschichte der Philosophie) published in twelve volumes at HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
from 1829 to 1853. This book was the product of a wide and thorough knowledge of the subject aided by an impartial critical faculty, and its value was underscored by its translation into almost all the languages of Europe. He wrote also accounts of ancient schools of philosophy, such as the Ionians, the Pythagoreans
Pythagoreanism
Pythagoreanism was the system of esoteric and metaphysical beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans, who were considerably influenced by mathematics. Pythagoreanism originated in the 5th century BCE and greatly influenced Platonism...
and the Megarians.
Beside these important historical works, he published a large number of treatises of which the following may be mentioned:
- Abriss der philosophischen Logik (1824)
- Geschichte der Philosophie (1829—1853; 2nd ed., vols. i-iv, 1836-38)
- Ueber das Verhältnis der Philosophie zum Leben (1835)
- Historia philosophiae Graeco-Romanae (in collaboration with PrellerLudwig PrellerLudwig Preller was a German philologist and antiquarian.Born in Hamburg, he studied at Leipzig, Berlin and Göttingen, in 1838 he was appointed to the professorship of philology at the University of Dorpat, which, however, he resigned in 1843. He afterwards spent some time in Italy, but settled in...
, 1838; 7th ed., 1888) - Kleine philosophische Schriften (1839—1840)
- Versuch zur Verständigung über die neueste deutsche Philosophie seit Kant (1853)
- System der Logik und Metaphysik (1856)
- Die christliche Philosophie bis auf die neuesten Zeiten (2 vols., 1858—59)
- Encyklopädie der philosophischen Wissenschaften (1862—1864)
- Ernest Renan, über die Naturwissenschaften und die Geschichte (1865)
- Ueber das Böse und seine Folgen (1869)