The transition from Lazarussohn to Lasson marked a significant pivot for a writer who spent his career navigating the intellectual landscapes of nineteenth-century Germany. Born in 1832 in Strelitz-Alt, this philosopher and university teacher established a career rooted in the rigorous academic traditions of Berlin, leaving behind a substantial body of work spanning law, religion, and literature.
Academic Foundation and Career
Lasson received his early education at the Gymnasium Carolinum in Neu-Strelitz. Between 1848 and the early 1850s, he pursued studies at the University of Berlin, focusing on philosophy under Friedrich Eduard Beneke, alongside classical philology with Trendelenburg, A. Boeckh, and Lachmann. He also studied theology and law. In 1861, he earned a doctorate from Leipzig University. His teaching career began at the Friedrichsgymnasium in 1858, followed by a tenure at the Louisenstädtisches Real-Gymnasium from 1859 until 1897. He later served as a privatdozent in philosophy at Berlin University starting in 1877, eventually attaining the position of honorary professor at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 1906.
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Influenced by the Hegelian theologian David Friedrich Strauss and the broader school of German Idealism, Lasson framed the liberty of mind as a primary moral duty and an essential fact of human existence. He drew intellectual inspiration from the writings of Meister Eckhart, applying these concepts to both Christian theology and his own philosophical framework. Beyond his academic appointments, he lectured on German literary history at the Viktoria Lyceum, a position he held beginning in 1874.
Literary and Scholarly Output
Lasson’s bibliography covers diverse topics. His notable publications include "Johann Gottlieb Fichte im Verhältnis zu Kirche und Staat" (1863), "Meister Eckhart" (1868), and "System der Rechtsphilosophie" (1881). He explored the evolution of human religious consciousness in his 1883 study of E. v. Hartmann and addressed economic themes in "Das unendlich Kleine im wirthschaftlichen Leben" (1891) and "Lotterie und Volkswirtschaft" (1894). Additionally, he published eight lectures under the title "Zeitliches und Zeitloses" in 1890, "Der Leib" in 1898, and a volume of religious poetry titled "Herzensstille" in 1868. He also edited a German translation of Giordano Bruno’s "De Causa."
Fast facts
- Born: 1832, Strelitz-Alt
- Died: 1917, Berlin
- Academic Institution: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Doctorate: Leipzig University
- Original Family Name: Lazarussohn
- Citizenship: Germany
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Adolf Lasson teach?
He taught philosophy as a privatdozent and honorary professor, and lectured on the history of German literature at the Viktoria Lyceum.
Did he have other professional roles?
Yes, he was a teacher at the Friedrichsgymnasium and the Louisenstädtisches Real-Gymnasium.
Achievements
- Held posts at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
