Influenced by the intellectual historical approach, scholars researching the history of Latvian philosophical thought have turned their attention to analyzing archival materials. Texts such as letters and diaries have become a research focus. While this tendency enhances the exploration of the history of philosophy, it also creates new challenges. As the complexity of the historical narrative in philosophy intensifies, it becomes increasingly difficult to understand these processes in a broader context. To alleviate the issue of fragmentation, one possible solution is (...) to explore local theories. Latvian theory delineates a net of individuals who engage in interactions with one another, thereby developing the flow of ideas. In examining the influence of personalism within the intellectual space of Latvia from the end of the nineteenth to the first third of the twentieth century, this article reveals two philosophemes of Latvian theory: substantiality and panentheism. (shrink)

Jēkabs Osis (1860–1920) is the first academically educated Latvian philosopher and one of the founders of the University of Latvia. However, Osis never worked there. His academic life was closely tied with the University of Tartu, where he studied theology, philosophy and eventually became a professor of philosophy. Inspired by his mentor, professor of philosophy, Gustav Teichmüller, Osis turned his attention to the works of Leibniz, most notably those about the nature of substance. Osis aspired to unify the understanding of (...) the notion of substance with the necessity to substantiate the immortality of individual entities. Osis criticized the philosophy of Leibniz and verified a new understanding of substance that is found in the works of Teichmüller. (shrink)

Many famous philosophers visited Latvia during its first period of independence (1918–1940). In 1924, philosopher Oswald Arnold Gottfried Spengler (1880–1936) gave a speech in Riga about Western civilization. German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889–1976) lectured in Riga in 1928. The same year, German psychologist and philosopher William Stern (1871–1938) conducted a series of lectures in Riga. Philosopher Rudolf Eucken (1846–1926) was one of the first influential philosophers to arrive in the newly founded country. The purpose of the article is to outline (...) why the philosopher came to Latvia, which thinkers he met in Riga and Liepāja, and what were the consequences of Eucken’s visit. Although Eucken was a well-known philosopher, he is now regarded as one of the forgotten thinkers. However, during the last two decades, when interest in German thinkers of the late 19th century has grown, significant steps have also been taken to recognize and research Eucken’s legacy. Dr. Frank Kuhlemann, a professor at the Technical University of Dresden, led the project to examine how Eucken’s philosophy influenced the German intellectual environment of the first half of the 20th century. The research resulted in several academic publications. At the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Eucken’s archive was researched. Published research and archival materials provide insight into some aspects of Latvian intellectual history. Several Baltic Germans from Latvia and some Latvians were Eucken’s students; for example, one of the first Latvian philosophers Pēteris Zālīte (1864–1939). He wrote to his former professor when the University of Latvia was founded to seek assistance in recruiting professors. He also invited the philosopher to come to Riga and give a guest lecture. It appears, though, that the philosopher’s trip to Latvia was primarily driven by concerns with cultural policy. The official Erich Krahmer-Möllenberg (1882–1942), who wanted to increase German influence in Latvia, persuaded the philosopher to travel to Riga. Eucken delivered lectures in Riga and visited the University of Latvia, libraries, and schools. The philosopher met not only with Baltic Germans but also with professors at the University of Latvia. While meeting with Latvian scientists, he expressed hope that in the future, Baltic Germans and Latvians will be able to cooperate in the field of science. In Liepāja, the philosopher met with representatives of Freemasonry. Following his visit, the Eucken League (Euckenbund) opened a section in Riga. Did the relationship between Germans, Baltic Germans, and Latvians grow stronger because of Eucken’s visit? As noticed by the ambassador of Germany to Latvia, Adolf Köster (1883–1930), Latvians perceived the events organized by the Germans in Latvia as meant for the Baltic Germans. These events did not promote unity – on the contrary, they promoted division. Eucken’s visit was no exception. (shrink)

Straipsnio tikslas – ištirti Latvijos filosofijos istoriografijos tendencijas per pastaruosius tris dešimtmečius. Autoriaus dėmesio centre dvi pagrindinės filosofijos istorijos rašymo prieigos – idėjų istorija ir intelektinė istorija. Iširus Sovietų Sąjungai Latvijos kultūriniame diskurse išpopuliarėjo terminas „idėjų istorija“. Filosofijos istorikai ėmėsi nušviesti glaudžius ryšius tarp Vakarų šalių ir Latvijos kultūrų. Tačiau pastarąjį dešimtmetį Latvijos filosofijos istorikai vis labiau renkasi intelektinės istorijos prieigą.

Dorpat personalism school starts its metaphysical inquary with the question of existence and analyzes the concept of subject through immediate self-consciousness as the basis of existence. As representatives of a school of critically-oriented thinkers, personalists develop new insights based on critical evaluation of preceding philosophical systems, emphasizing the importance of the history of philosophy. Therefore, to determine what is understood by the immediate self-consciousness as the basis of personality in metaphysics of personalism, this paper will describe personalist criticism of Leibniz’s (...) doctrine of monads. In the introduction, I briefly outline personalism tendencies in philosophy and describe the Dorpat personalism school. The first part of the paper describes personalism philosophy and Leibniz’s metaphysics, emphasizing the importance of immediate self-consciousness. The second part describes the distinction of the types of existence in personalism and consistency that follows, relating them to immediate self-consciousness. In the third part the basics of personalism ethics will be outlined. (shrink)