Hermann Ulrici (; 23 March 180611 January 1884) was a German philosopher. He was co-editor (with
I. H. Fichte) of the philosophical journal ''
Zeitschrift für Philosophie und philosophische Kritik
The ''Zeitschrift für Philosophie und philosophische Kritik'' was an academic journal. It was established in 1837 by editor-in-chief Immanuel Hermann Fichte as ''Zeitschrift für Philosophie und spekulative Theologie'' and renamed in 1847. Notabl ...
''. He also wrote under the pseudonym of Ulrich Reimann.
Life
Ulrici was born at
Pförten, in the
Niederlausitz
Lower Lusatia (; ; ; szl, Dolnŏ Łużyca; ; ) is a historical region in Central Europe, stretching from the southeast of the Germany, German state of Brandenburg to the southwest of Lubusz Voivodeship in Poland. Like adjacent Upper Lusatia i ...
region of the
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg (german: link=no, Markgrafschaft Brandenburg) was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806 that played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe.
Brandenburg developed out ...
. He was educated at the in Berlin. He initially studied law, but gave up his profession on the death of his father, and devoted four years to the study of literature, philosophy and science. In 1834 he was appointed
professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...
of philosophy at the
University of Halle
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (german: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg), also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg and the largest and oldest university in ...
, where he remained till his death.
Thought
His philosophical standpoint may be characterized as a reaction from the
pantheistic
Pantheism is the belief that reality, the universe and the cosmos are identical with divinity and a supreme supernatural being or entity, pointing to the universe as being an immanent creator deity still expanding and creating, which has ...
tendency of
Hegel's idealistic
rationalism
In philosophy, rationalism is the epistemological view that "regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge" or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification".Lacey, A.R. (1996), ''A Dictionary of Philosophy ...
towards a more pronouncedly theistic position. The Hegelian identity of being and thought is also abandoned and the truth of realism acknowledged, an attempt being made to exhibit
idealism
In philosophy, the term idealism identifies and describes metaphysical perspectives which assert that reality is indistinguishable and inseparable from perception and understanding; that reality is a mental construct closely connected t ...
and realism as respectively incomplete but mutually complementary systems.
Ulrici's later works, while expressing the same views, are largely occupied in proving the existence of God and the
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...
on the basis of scientific conceptions, and in opposition to the materialistic current of thought then popular in Germany. His first works were in the sphere of literary criticism; of his treatise ''On Shakespeare's Dramatic Art'' (1839; editions, 1847, 1868, 1874), the 3rd ed. was translated into English by LD Schmitz in 1876. In 1841 he published ''Ueber Princip