1001Philosophers

Johann Friedrich Herbart 1776 – 1841

Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776 – 1841) was a German philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Continental Philosophy.

Johann Friedrich Herbart was a German philosopher, psychologist, and educational theorist, and the principal opponent of post-Kantian idealism in the first half of the nineteenth century. Successor to Kant in the chair at Konigsberg and later professor at Gottingen, he developed a realist metaphysics in which reality consists of simple, qualitatively determined substances called reals, whose relations give rise to apparent change. His General Theory of Pedagogy and Psychology as a Science articulated a quantitative psychology of the interplay of mental presentations and a carefully reasoned theory of moral education. The Herbartian school dominated German pedagogy until the early twentieth century.

Key facts

Nationality
German
Era
Modern
Movements
Continental Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart:

    “Pedagogy without philosophy is mere routine.”

  • Attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart:

    “The aim of education is the formation of moral character.”

  • Attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart:

    “Mind is the interplay of presentations that struggle and combine.”

  • Attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart:

    “Reality is composed of simple substances, each preserving its own quality.”

  • Attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart:

    “All philosophy is the elaboration of concepts; this is its quiet but enduring task.”

Read all Johann Friedrich Herbart quotes

Johann Friedrich Herbart by topic

Frequently asked about Johann Friedrich Herbart

When did Johann Friedrich Herbart live?
Johann Friedrich Herbart was born in 1776 and died in 1841.
Where was Johann Friedrich Herbart from?
Johann Friedrich Herbart was a German philosopher of the Modern era.
What philosophical movements is Johann Friedrich Herbart associated with?
Johann Friedrich Herbart was associated with Continental Philosophy.
What was Johann Friedrich Herbart known for?
Johann Friedrich Herbart was a German philosopher, psychologist, and educational theorist, and the principal opponent of post-Kantian idealism in the first half of the nineteenth century.
How many quotes are attributed to Johann Friedrich Herbart?
There are 9 attributed quotations from Johann Friedrich Herbart in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.