The publication of the Zeitschrift für Völkerpsychologie und Sprachwissenschaft in 1859 marked a turning point in the systematic study of social consciousness. Established by Moritz Lazarus and Heymann Steinthal, this periodical introduced a rigorous academic framework for exploring the psychological foundations of societal behavior, moving beyond individual analysis to address the collective evolution of human culture.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born in 1824 in Wieleń, Kingdom of Prussia, Moritz Lazarus pursued an extensive education in history, philosophy, and law, culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His early writing, such as the 1850 work Die Sittliche Berechtigung Preussens in Deutschland, positioned him within the political discourse of his era by advocating for Prussian leadership among the German states. His professional trajectory took him to the University of Bern, where he served as a professor, before he secured a position at the Kriegsakademie in 1868 and eventually returned to a professorship at the University of Berlin in 1873.
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Lazarus rejected metaphysical abstractions, arguing that truth resided in psychological investigations rooted in historical and comparative contexts. He pioneered Völkerpsychologie, a field focused on the fabric of society, including its conventions and customs. His primary publication, Das Leben der Seele, released between 1855 and 1857, applied Herbartian philosophical principles to collective psychology. This work, alongside numerous monographs like Ueber den Ursprung der Sitten and Ideale Fragen, solidified his reputation as a systematic thinker dedicated to analyzing the evolutionary tendencies of humanity.
Communal Leadership and Public Advocacy
Beyond his philosophical pursuits, Lazarus maintained a prominent role in the Jewish community. He presided over the Jewish synods at Leipzig in 1869 and Augsburg in 1871. His commitment to social advocacy manifested in his vocal opposition to rising antisemitism, as detailed in his 1887 collection Treu und Frei: Reden und Vorträge über Juden und Judenthum. He was an active figure in various organizations, including the Alliance Israélite Universelle and the Deutsch-Israelitischer Gemeindebund, and helped found the Lehranstalt für die Wissenschaft des Judenthums in Berlin.
Final Years
Upon reaching his seventieth birthday, Lazarus received several honors, including the title of Geheimrath from the German emperor. His life was marked by significant personal transitions, including his marriage to Nahida Ruth Remy in 1895. He eventually retired to Merano, where he resided until his death in 1903. Throughout his career, he remained a central figure in German intellectual life, contributing consistently to the rigorous academic standards of his time.
Fast facts
- Born: 1824, Wieleń
- Died: 1903, Merano
- Education: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Key field: Völkerpsychologie
- Notable work: Das Leben der Seele
- Academic appointments: University of Bern, University of Berlin
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
Questions readers ask
What was the main goal of Völkerpsychologie?
It sought to study mankind through a historical and comparative lens, analyzing the customs and conventions that constitute society as a whole.
What was the focus of Lazarus's public activism?
He was an active communal leader who advocated for the Jewish population and published writings to combat the rise of antisemitism in Germany.
Achievements
- Held posts at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and University of Bern
- Fields: philosophy, psychology and volkerpsychologie
