ERDMANN, Johann Eduard, German phi losopher: b. Wolmar, in Livonia, 13 June 1805; d. Halle, 12 June 1892. He studied theology at the universities of Dorpat and Berlin, com ing there under the influence of Hegel (q.v.). In 1829 he became a clergyman in his native town. In 1832 be returned to Berlin, became a member of the philosophic faculty of the uni versity in 1832, and in 1836 professor extraordi nary of philosophy at the University'of Halle, being appointed ordinary professor in 1839. He was one of its best-known and most successful teachers and lecturers. His numerous philosophi cal writings, characterized for the most part by their Hegelian tendencies, were widely read, chiefly because he was brilliantly successful in some of them in his attempt to combine a strictly scientific attitude toward his subject with easy style and clear presentation. His writings include 'Versuch einer Wissenschaf t lichen Darstellung der Geschichte der Neueren Philosophic' (3 vols., Leipzig 1834-51) ; Vorle sungen Tuber Glauben und Wissen, etc.' (Berlin 1837) ; 'Leib und Seele' (Halle 1837) ; (Natur und Schilpfung) (Leipzig 1840) ;
der Psychologie' (Leipzig 1840) ;
der Logik und Metaphysik' (Halle 1841) ; Ver mischte Aufsitze) (Halle 1846) ; (Philoso phische Vorlesungen fiber den Staat' (Halle 1851);
67). The last has been translated as 'A History of Philosophy' (W. S. Hough, ed., 3 vols., Lon don 1890). There is also a translation of an other one of his works by B. C. Burt, 'Outlines of Logic and Metaphysics' (London 1896). Erdmann also edited the works of G. W. von Leibniz (2 vols., Berlin 1840). Some of his lectures have been collected under the title 'Ernste Spiele' (Berlin 1855) ; many others have been printed separately as pamphlets. His sermons, given between 1846-67, were collected in two volumes (Halle 1850 and 1867), while others were published separately.