HOIJER, BENJAMIN CARL HENRIK, a philosopher of vary high reputation in Sweden, whom /lemma:ski:1d, the historian of Swedish philosophy, describes as '' the most distinguished man of his country and his age, whose Europe will one day number with pride among its thinkers." He was born on the let of June 1767 at Klingsbo is Dalecarlia, the son of the minister of the parish. In 1783 he became a student at Upsal, and in 1788 took his degree as a doctor of philosophy. In Sweden as in many other countrica the outbreak of the French revolution excited a ferment among the young and ardent iu its favour; at Upsal a society was formed under the name of 'the Junta,' of which Floijer was the leader and the soul. They were soon of course stigmatised as Jacobins, and it was probably to a wish to draw his principles into prominence that he was indebted for the appointment to deliver a public oration before a portion of the university on tho occasion of the assassination of Gustavus III. by Aukerstrism. Iliiijer's spirit was not high—he pronounced a panegyric on the monarch who had effected a regal revolution, and even declared "I should not hesitate fora moment if the choice were offered me, rather to be the subject of a wise king, than to be even a powerful citizen In a falling under the deepotism of the many." His prospects were nevertheless destroyed—he applied for a professorship six times is vain, and went abroad to Germany and France apparently In search of come other career, but returned to Upsal. Ilia disappointment soured his temper, and he gave indulgence to a spirit of sarcasm which did not conciliate his enemies, who had also the advantage of being able to allege that his habits were remarkably licentious. At length, when; in 1S09, the professorship of philosophy was once again vacant, and he lied again applied for it with small hopes of success, the sudden revolution took place which dethroned Gustavus IV., and
many of Hoijer'a old friends of the Junta came into power. lie received the long sought-for prize, but did not long enjoy it. Ho died on the 13th of June 1612.
Holier was a lecturer of great excellence, end as a writer was noted for elegance of style. His works were collected and published by his half-brother Joseph Otto professor of Greek literatnre at Upsal, in five volumes ('Samlade Skrifter,' Stockholm, 1325-27). A sixth was to follow, containing notes of his travels and other miscellaneous matter, but it has never appeared. A considerable portion of what was published was put together from brief notes of the heads of his lectures, merely intended for his own use, which were found after his death. The subjects of the whole are discussions on different Pointe of metaphyaies and testhetice. An Essay on the Philosophy of Con struction,' which was first published in 1799, was translated into German and spoken of with high approbation in Schelling's journal. Hammarskold describes the fuudamental principle of lloijer's views in philosophy as this—that the natural condition of man is that in which ho desired to be, not that in which he is llis more important contri butions to aesthetics are an 'Outline of a History of the Fine Arts ' Lectures on the Philosophy of the Fine Arta ; and ' The Eloquence of the Ancients and Moderns compared.' His general views were in favour of the "romantio" as distinguished from the "classical" school in literature, but his own style of composition was of a neat, correct, and classical character. Ills reputation appears to be rather on the rise than the wane in Sweden.