Frederik van Eeden (1860-1932)

[Guest guest]

Frederik Van Eeden was a novelist, poet and philosopher. In his early

writings, he was strongly influenced by Hindu Ideas of the selfhood,

by Boehme's mysticism, and by Fechner's panpsychism. In his later

life, van Eeden became a Catholic.

 

In psychology he is known for his idea of lucid dreaming. In 1914, he

formed a circle of academics that included Martin Buber, Henri Borel,

Gustav Landauer, Poul C. Bjerre, and Erich Gutkind. Shortly before

World War I, this group broke up. After World War I, van Eeden

started a Walden-type community in the Netherlands, with the Dutch

mathematician Brouwer as its first chairman. Van Eeden also had plans

for an international school of philosophy. His vision led to the

founding of the Internationale Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte at

Amersfoort. It was founded in 1916, although van Eeden by then was no

longer involved in the founding committee. It continues to today,

with the same goal of " the formation of a center for the deepening of

life and worldviews " [het vormen van een centrum ter verdieping van

levens- en wereldbeschouwing].

 

Van Eeden visited the U.S. He had contacts with William James and

other psychologists. He met Freud in Vienna. He corresponded with

Hermann Hesse.

 

Van Eeden also had an interest in Indian philosophy. He translated

Tagore's Gitanjali.

 

It is interesting that the Dutch mathematician Brouwer took part in

van Eeden's community. Vollenhoven's thesis was about Brouwer's

intuitionism in mathematics.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls..It takes TWO to tango:

 

" Let's not be L7

Come and learn to dance " ...from " Wooly Bully "

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

 

bob(the once again cowboy)