Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars
Encyclopedia
Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars (25 September 1868 – 4 August 1917) was a Norwegian academic. Originally educated as a theologian
, he soon switched to philosophy
and psychology
.
as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars (1837–1908) and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald (1838–1919).He was the brother of architect Harald Aars
, and a grandson of Christian Birch-Reichenwald
. He was also a grandnephew of priest and politician Jens Aars
and a second cousin of writer Sophus Christian Munk Aars
.
Between 1895 and 1910 he was married to Marna Aall (1873–1948). During that time he was a brother-in-law of Anathon Aall
and Herman Harris Aall. Anathon Aall biographed him in the first volume of the first edition of the biographical dictionary
Norsk biografisk leksikon
. In a later marriage, Marna Aall became mother-in-law of astronomer Rolf Brahde
.
his secondary education in 1887, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the degree cand.theol.
in 1892. After completing his education in theology, he shifted to philosophy. He studied abroad from 1894, and was a research assistant
under Götz Martius and Angelo Mosso
. He took the dr.philos. degree in 1897 with the thesis Die Autonomie der Moral, and in the next year he was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
. From 1900 to 1914 he was a research fellow
at the Royal Frederick University. His main works were Zur psychologischen Analyse der Welt. Projektionsphilosophie (1900) and Gut und Böse. Zur Psychologie der Moralgefühle (1907), both written in the German language
.
He did not only hold lectures in philosophy, but also in experimental psychology
and epistemology. He saw knowledge in experimental psychology as a precondition for research in philosophy. He requested the establishment of a Department of Psychology at the Royal Frederick University, but it took more than ten years before this wish materialized. The person behind the new Department was Anathon Aall, who headed it until 1937.
Aars struggled with heavy asthma
for much of his life. He died in August 1917 in Kristiania.
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...
, he soon switched to 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...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
Personal life
He was born in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars (1837–1908) and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald (1838–1919).He was the brother of architect Harald Aars
Harald Aars
Harald Aars was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Christiania as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald . He was the brother of academic Kristian Aars, a grandson of Christian Birch-Reichenwald and a great-grandson of Peter Motzfeldt...
, and a grandson of Christian Birch-Reichenwald
Christian Birch-Reichenwald
Christian Birch-Reichenwald was a Norwegian politician.He was born in Blaker to Paul Hansen Birch and Anna Catharina Hoffmand Stenersen. He married Jacobine Ida Sophie Motzfeldt, daughter of Peter Motzfeldt and niece of his own mother...
. He was also a grandnephew of priest and politician Jens Aars
Jens Aars
Jens Aars was a Norwegian priest and politician.He was the son of district stipendiary magistrate Jacob Aars , who had migrated to Norway from Aars, Denmark in 1757. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1821, representing the constituency of Nordlands Amt...
and a second cousin of writer Sophus Christian Munk Aars
Sophus Christian Munk Aars
Sophus Christian Munk Aars was a Norwegian civil servant and writer.He was a son of priest and politician Nils Fredrik Julius Aars and his wife Sofie Elisabeth Stabel. He was a grandson of priest and politician Jens Aars and a first cousin of banker and politician Jens Ludvig Andersen Aars...
.
Between 1895 and 1910 he was married to Marna Aall (1873–1948). During that time he was a brother-in-law of Anathon Aall
Anathon Aall
Anathon August Fredrik Aall was a Norwegian academic. Originally educated as a theologian, he was rejected for a professorship in this field, and switched to philosophy and psychology...
and Herman Harris Aall. Anathon Aall biographed him in the first volume of the first edition of the biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionaries – a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information – have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country...
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
. In a later marriage, Marna Aall became mother-in-law of astronomer Rolf Brahde
Rolf Brahde
Carl Rolf Brahde was a Norwegian astronomer.He was born in Tvedestrand as Carl Rolf Henriksen. He was the son of teacher Bredo Henriksen and Edna Lucy Brahde Davidsen . He changed his last name to Brahde in 1933. He finished his secondary education in Skien in 1937, and enrolled at the University...
.
Career
Aars finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1887, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the degree cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
in 1892. After completing his education in theology, he shifted to philosophy. He studied abroad from 1894, and was a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
under Götz Martius and Angelo Mosso
Angelo Mosso
Angelo Mosso , 19th century Italian physiologist, who created the first crude neuroimaging technique by recording the pulsation of the human cortex in patients with skull defects following neurosurgical procedures...
. He took the dr.philos. degree in 1897 with the thesis Die Autonomie der Moral, and in the next year he was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
. From 1900 to 1914 he was a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the Royal Frederick University. His main works were Zur psychologischen Analyse der Welt. Projektionsphilosophie (1900) and Gut und Böse. Zur Psychologie der Moralgefühle (1907), both written in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
He did not only hold lectures in philosophy, but also in experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
and epistemology. He saw knowledge in experimental psychology as a precondition for research in philosophy. He requested the establishment of a Department of Psychology at the Royal Frederick University, but it took more than ten years before this wish materialized. The person behind the new Department was Anathon Aall, who headed it until 1937.
Aars struggled with heavy asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
for much of his life. He died in August 1917 in Kristiania.