Vilhelm Vindelband

Vilhelm Vindelband

German idealist philosopher, head of the Baden school of neo-Kantianism.
Date of Birth: 11.05.1848
Country: Germany

Content:
  1. Wilhelm Windelband: A Pioneer of Neo-Kantianism
  2. Academic Career
  3. Philosophical Contributions
  4. Overcoming the Thing-in-Itself:
  5. The Critical Science of Values:
  6. Transcendental and A Priori Values:
  7. Methodology of Science
  8. Major Works

Wilhelm Windelband: A Pioneer of Neo-Kantianism

Early Life and Education

Wilhelm Windelband was born on May 11, 1848, in Potsdam, Prussia. He studied theology and philosophy at the universities of Berlin and Göttingen, earning his doctorate in 1870.

Academic Career

Professor in Switzerland and Germany:

Windelband began his academic career as a professor at the University of Zurich in 1876. He subsequently held positions at the universities of Freiburg im Breisgau (1877), Strasbourg (1882), and Heidelberg (1903).

Philosophical Contributions

Neo-Kantianism:

Windelband was a leading figure in the Baden School of Neo-Kantianism. He sought to reconcile the transcendental idealism of Immanuel Kant with the historical and cultural developments of the 19th century.

Overcoming the Thing-in-Itself:

In his writings, Windelband attempted to eliminate the concept of the "thing-in-itself" from Kant's philosophy. He argued that this notion was unnecessary and led to a dualism between the subjective and objective realms.

The Critical Science of Values:

Windelband defined philosophy as the "critical science of universally binding values." He believed that philosophy should be a normative discipline based on judgments of value rather than empirical data.

Transcendental and A Priori Values:

Windelband posited that values are transcendental, a priori, and universally valid. He recognized the ethical imperative as the ultimate goal of human progress.

Methodology of Science

Nomothetic vs. Idiographic Sciences:

Windelband distinguished between nomothetic sciences, which study general laws, and idiographic sciences, which focus on individual phenomena in their uniqueness.

Major Works

History of Ancient Philosophy(1888)
History of Modern Philosophy(1878-1880)
On Free Will(1881)
Textbook of the History of Philosophy(1892)
Legacy

Wilhelm Windelband died in Heidelberg on October 22, 1915. His work significantly contributed to the development of Neo-Kantianism and influenced subsequent generations of philosophers. His emphasis on values and the distinction between nomothetic and idiographic sciences remain important concepts in philosophy and the social sciences today.

© BIOGRAPHS