WOLFF, Christian, German philosopher and mathematician: b. Breslau, 24 Jan. 1679; d. Halle, 9 April 1754. He studied at Jena theology, mathematics and phliosophy, paying particular attention to the writings of Descartes and Tchirnhausen, and writing an elncidatory commentary on the 'Medicina Mentis' of the latter, which circumstance was the occasion of an intimacy between him and Leibnitz. In 1707 he was called to Halle as professor of mathe matics. By his rationalistic views he here in curred the hostility of certain theologians who denounced him and tn• an order from the gov ernment of Frederick William I he was com manded (1723) to resign his office, leave Halle in 24 hours and the Prussian States in two days. But he was ultimately vindicated, and in 1740 appointed by Frederick 11 vice-chancellor and professor in the University of Halle. Three years later he was made chancellor of that uni versity. The principal service rendered by Wolff to the progress of learning consisted in his persistent application of mathematical meth ods to the investigations of physical science.
The decided rationalism which charaterized his philosophical doctrine resulted in a popular ization of the Leibnitzian teaching. %Vhile ap propriating many of the conceptions of Leib nitz he controverted his monadology, and re garded the theory of pre-existent harmonies as a mere hypothesis, while he asserted the roc sible interaction of body and soul. Like %'% oltY, Kant in his 'Critic of Pure Reason' diodes philosophy into Ontology, Cosmology, Rational Psychology and Natural Theology. His col lected works make up 22 volumes. Consult Arnsperger. 'Christian NVolff's Verhiltniss zu Leibnitz (1897) ; Lewes, 'Biographical His tory of Philosophy' ; Pichler. 'licher C. Ontologie' (1910); Pito% 'Studien zur sprach lichen Wiirdigung C. Wolff's' (1903); \Vatcke, '‘Volffs eigene Lebensheschreibung' (Leipzig 1841).