1001Philosophers

Arnold Gehlen 1904 – 1976

Arnold Gehlen (1904 – 1976) was a German philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Continental Philosophy.

Arnold Gehlen was a German philosopher and one of the principal founders, with Max Scheler and Helmuth Plessner, of modern philosophical anthropology. After teaching at Leipzig and Vienna under the National Socialist regime, a compromise that shadowed his later reputation, he spent his postwar career at the Speyer administrative academy and at Aachen. His Man: His Nature and Place in the World argued that the human being is a biologically deficient being whose institutions, techniques, and habits compensate for that deficiency, while his Moral and Hyper-Morality offered a controversial defense of stable institutions against modern moral over-reach.

Key facts

Nationality
German
Era
Contemporary
Movements
Continental Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Arnold Gehlen:

    “Man is the deficient being who must compensate for his lack of instinct by culture.”

  • Attributed to Arnold Gehlen:

    “Institutions stabilize what nature in us has left unfinished.”

  • Attributed to Arnold Gehlen:

    “Action is more fundamental to the human than thought.”

  • Attributed to Arnold Gehlen:

    “Modernity has weakened the institutions on which freedom rests.”

  • Attributed to Arnold Gehlen:

    “Culture is the second nature of humanity.”

Arnold Gehlen by topic

Frequently asked about Arnold Gehlen

When did Arnold Gehlen live?
Arnold Gehlen was born in 1904 and died in 1976.
Where was Arnold Gehlen from?
Arnold Gehlen was a German philosopher of the Contemporary era.
What philosophical movements is Arnold Gehlen associated with?
Arnold Gehlen was associated with Continental Philosophy.
What was Arnold Gehlen known for?
Arnold Gehlen was a German philosopher and one of the principal founders, with Max Scheler and Helmuth Plessner, of modern philosophical anthropology.
How many quotes are attributed to Arnold Gehlen?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Arnold Gehlen in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.