About
Victor Cousin (1792-1867) was a French philosopher and politician, founder of Eclecticism, the dominant school in 19th-century French academic philosophy. He divided philosophy into four types (sensualism, idealism, skepticism, mysticism) and proposed a synthesis based on a tripartite psychology (sensibility, will, reason). He introduced Hegelianism to France and contributed to the translation of Plato and the edition of Descartes' works. As a politician, he was a Peer of France, Minister of Public Instruction (1840), and helped draft the Guizot law on primary education. After 1848, he devoted himself to historical and literary studies.
* 1792-11-28 — † 1867-01-13
Major works
- Du Vrai, du Beau, du Bien (1836)philosophical essay
- Fragments philosophiques (1826)philosophical collection
- Histoire générale de la philosophie (1863)history of philosophy
- Œuvres de Descartes (1824-1826)critical edition
- Traduction de Platon (1822-1840)translation
Key milestones
- 1818Coined the phrase 'art for art's sake'
- 1824-1825Imprisoned in Prussia for six months, released thanks to Hegel's intervention
- 1840Appointed Minister of Public Instruction
Themes
EclecticismHistory of philosophyPsychologyEducationAesthetics
Sources: britannica.com · rep.routledge.com · cambridge.org