Volkelt, Johannes
Volkelt, Johannes
(1848-1930) Waa influenced by the traditions of German idealism since Kant. His most imported work consisted in the analysis of knowledge which, he contended, had a double source; for it requires, first of all, empirical data, insofar as there can be no real knowledge of the external world apart from consciousness, and also logical thinking, insofar as it elaborates the crude material of perception. Consequently, knowledge may be described as the product of rational operations on the material of pure experience. Thus he arrived at the conclusion that reality is “trans-subjective”, that is to say, it consists neither of mere objects nor of mere data of consciousness, but is rather a synthesis of both elements of existence. — R.B.W.
Main worksErfahrung u. Denken, 1886; System d. Aesthetik, 1905-14, Phnomenologie u. Metaphysik d. Zeit, 1925; Problem d. Individualitt, 1928.