WUNDT, Wilhelm (Max), German physi ologist,psychologist and philosopher: b. 16 Aug. 1832, near Mannheim. During the years 1851-56 he studied at Tubingen, Heidelberg and Berlin. In 1857 he became privatdocent, and in 1864 assistant professor of physiology at Heidelberg where he remained until 1874. Here he wrote his first important books 'Die Lehre vom der Muskelbewegung' (1858), 'Beitrage zur Theo& der Sinneswahrnehmung' (1858-62), 'Vorlesungen ueber die Menschen und Tierseele' (1863; 4th ed. 1906), 'Lectures on Human and Animal Psychology,' trans. by J. E. Creighton and E. . Titchener, 1894), 'Lehrbuch der Physiologic des Menschen' (1865; 4th ed., 1878), der physio logischen Psychologie' (1874; 6th ed., 1908-11). In the Worlesungen) and the Wundt points the way to a new psychology, one defined not by a differentiation of objects, but by point of view, one that is experimental in its method, and one capable of Including much of the of Herbart and Lotze, the psychophysics of Weber and Fechner, and the sense-phystology of J. Muller and Helm holtz. In 1874 Wundt went to Zurich as pro fessor of philosophy, and in the following year was called to a similar chair at Leipzig where he has since remained. In 1879 he established the first psychological laboratory and in 1883 the Phdosophischr •tudien, devoted chiefly to the contributions of the Leipzig school. This ceased publication with the 20th volume in 1903, but a new series, the Psvchologische Studien was begun in 1906. In 1896 appeared 'Grundriss der Psychologie' (Outlines of Psychology, trans. by C H. Judd. 1897; 3d ed.. 1907). and in 1900 the first installment of his 'Volkerpsychologie' (Vol. V of the 2d ed, completed in 1914), the development of las guage, custom and religion from the psycho logical point of view.
Meanwhile he found time also for philoso phy.
an investigation of the facts and laws of the moral life, in 1886 (Eng. trans. by
B. Titchener, J. H. Gulliver and M. F. Wash burn, 1897), 'System der Philosophic.' in 1889, 'Einleitung in die Philosophic,' in 1901. and 'Kleine Schriften,' Vol. 1, philosophical essays, in 1910. Wundt's system of philosophy has been characterized as the science of the sciences. He attempts to 'unite into a consir ent system the general knowledge contained in the various sciences, and to trace back to their principles the general methods and presup positions of science in general.• As regards his success, Kiilpe says, 'Wundt's abgity to familiarize himself thoroughly with all fields of knowledge, and to enrich them all by his ingenious combinations, by his inspiring ideas and researches, and by a rare gift for systematic-architectonic analysis, has made him not only the greatest all round scholar of our time, but also the most successful repre sentative of those who aim at a mediation between philosophy and the special sciences. In this respect he may be called a modern Aristotle or Leibnitz.* Bibliography.— Eisler, R., 'W. Wundt's Philosophic and Psychologie (Leipzig 1902); Hall, G. S., 'Founders of Modern Psychology' (New York 1912); Konig, E., 'Wundt, sane Philosophic und Psychologie' (Stuttgart 1901); litiffding, H., 'Modern Philosophers,' trans. by Mason, A. C. (London 1915): Kiilpe, 0., 'The Philosophy of the Present in Germany,' trans. by Patrick, M. L.„ and Patrick G. T. W. (New York 1913): Titchener, E. B Geissler, L R. and Foster. W. S., 'A Bibliography of the Scientific Writings of Wilhelm Wundt,' in America Journal of Psychology, XIX, 1908 and saii sequent volumes.