WOLFF, or WOLF, CIIRISTI$N (1679-1754). A German philosopher. lie was the succes sor of Leibnitz in the series of Cartesian phi losophers. and did much to complete and develop Leibnitz's system, whence his school is often called the Leibnitz-Wolfrian school. lie was born at Breslau. He studied at Jena. and from 1703 to 1706 taught mathematics and philosophy at Leipzig:. In 1707. on the recommendation of Leib nitz, Ile became professor of mathematics and natural science in Halle, where lie acquired great fame. In 1723 he was banished from Prussia by a Cabinet order, on the ground that his teachings were fatalistic and atheistic. He received an ap pointment at the University of Marburg; but in 1740 he was restored by Frederick the Great, and was welcomed in Halle with the greatest enthusi asm. From this time lie devoted himself to au thorship, and produced a long line of voluminous looks. He died at Halle. Without special genius
or originality,heperformed great service as an or ganizing and systematizing philosopher. Tie created a distinctly German philosophy. He di vided philosophy into ontology. cosmology, psy chology, and natural theology. He accepted Leibnitz's theory of morals. though lie would not carry the preestablished harmony to the length of denying a natural interaction of soul and body. Tie held fast to Leibnitz's optimism and determinism. His great principle was that of the 'sufficient reason.' in theology, he admitted the possibility of revelation and miracles, but so restricted them by rational principles that he substantially denied them. Consult Wateke, eigene Lebensbesehreibung (Leipzig, 1841). See PHILOSOPHY.