The Schopenhauer Society was founded in 1911 by Paul Deussen, a German academic whose career spanned the disciplines of history, philosophy, and Indology. A significant intellectual force at Kiel University, he shaped European understanding of Eastern traditions through extensive translations and systematic analysis of Sanskrit texts, while maintaining a lifelong professional focus on the works of Arthur Schopenhauer.
Academic Formation and Early Career
Born on 7 January 1845 in Oberdreis, Paul Deussen was the son of a clergyman. Between 1864 and 1881, he pursued his education at the universities of Bonn, Tübingen, and Berlin. During his time at Bonn, a lecture by Professor Christian Lassen regarding the Shakuntala ignited his primary research interest in Sanskrit and Hinduism. He earned his dissertation on the philosophy of Plato. His professional trajectory included positions as Privatdocent from 1881 to 1887 and Extraordinarius from 1887 to 1889 at the University of Berlin. He ultimately secured a permanent appointment as Ordinarius at Kiel University in 1889, where he remained until his death in 1919.
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Take the IQ test →Contributions to Indology
Deussen adopted the Sanskritized name Deva-Sena to signify his commitment to his field. His scholarly output was prolific, beginning with the 1877 publication of Die Elemente der Metaphysik. He produced numerous translations and analyses, including The Sutra of the Vedanta in 1906, The Philosophy of the Upanishads in 1906, and The System of the Vedanta in 1912. His 1904 visit to India served as the basis for My Indian Reminiscences, published in 1912. His broader project, the Allgemeine Geschichte der Philosophie, spanned multiple volumes and covered the history of thought from the Veda to the works of Schopenhauer.
Engagement with Schopenhauer
Beyond his Indological work, Deussen functioned as a dedicated steward of Arthur Schopenhauer’s intellectual legacy. He established the Schopenhauer Society in 1911 and served as the inaugural editor of the Schopenhauer Yearbook in 1912. He continued his editorial duties and efforts to curate and publish editions of Schopenhauer’s writings until 1919. These efforts consolidated his reputation as a scholar deeply embedded in both Western metaphysical traditions and the ancient philosophical frameworks he documented from the East.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 January 1845, Oberdreis
- Died: 6 July 1919, Kiel
- Citizenship: Germany
- Education: University of Bonn, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Primary Employer: Kiel University
- Professional Member: Bonner Burschenschaft Frankonia
- Key Publication: The System of the Vedanta (1912)
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Deussen’s research into Sanskrit?
He was a prominent participant in the scholarly Western discovery of Sanskrit and Hinduism, spearheading the study of Vedic literature and the Upanishads.
Which philosophical figures influenced his work?
Deussen was a lifelong student of Arthur Schopenhauer and maintained personal friendships with Friedrich Nietzsche and Swami Vivekananda.
Achievements
- Held posts at Kiel University
- Fields: Indology
