George Henry Lewes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Henry Lewes
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| Born | 18 April 1817 London, England
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| Died | 30 November 1878 (aged 61) London, England
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| Spouse(s) |
Agnes Jervis
(m. 1841) |
| Partner(s) | George Eliot (1854–1878) |
| Era | Modern philosophy
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| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Positivism |
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Influences
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George Henry Lewes (
i/ˈluːɪs/; 18 April 1817 – 30 November 1878) was an English thinker and writer. He was a philosopher, a critic of books and plays, and even studied the human body as an amateur physiologist.
Lewes was known for being witty and lively. He was part of a time in the mid-Victorian era when new ideas were being discussed. These included Darwinism (Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution), positivism (a way of thinking that focuses on scientific facts), and religious skepticism (doubting religious beliefs). Today, he is perhaps best known for his close partnership with Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the name George Eliot. Their lives and writings were greatly helped by their strong connection.
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About George Henry Lewes
Lewes was born in London. He was the son of a poet, John Lee Lewes. He moved often as a child and was educated in London, Jersey, and Brittany. He also attended Dr. Charles Burney's school in Greenwich.
He tried different careers. First, he worked in business, then in medicine. He even thought about becoming an actor and performed on stage several times. In the end, he decided to focus on writing, science, and philosophy.
Lewes was interested in philosophy from a young age. He also studied nutrition and how the body works. He even did experiments on animals like frogs to understand reflexes and the nervous system. He used ether and chloroform to prevent pain during these studies.
He became friends with famous writers like Leigh Hunt, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Carlyle, and Charles Dickens. This helped him become part of London's literary scene.
Lewes's Personal Life
In 1841, George Henry Lewes married Agnes Jervis. They had three sons together, but only one, Charles Lewes, lived longer than his father. Charles later became a local politician in London.
His Partnership with George Eliot
Lewes met Mary Ann Evans in 1851. She later became famous as the writer George Eliot. By 1854, they decided to live together. They shared a deep intellectual and personal connection.
In July 1854, Lewes and Evans traveled to Germany. This trip was for Lewes's research on the German writer Goethe. It also served as a special time for them, as they considered themselves married. Evans even began calling herself Mary Ann Evans Lewes.
Lewes's Writings and Ideas
For many years, Lewes wrote articles for different magazines. He wrote about many topics. His articles often showed his sharp critical thinking and his understanding of philosophy.
His most important writings were about drama. These were later published as Actors and Acting (1875) and The Spanish Drama (1846). He had seen famous actors perform, like Edmund Kean, and these experiences stayed with him. He is seen as one of the first modern theatre critics. He believed in a realistic way of acting.
In 1845–46, Lewes wrote The Biographical History of Philosophy. This book looked at the lives of philosophers. He also wrote two novels, Ranthorpe and Rose, Blanche and Violet, but they are not widely read today.
His most famous book is the Life of Goethe (1855). Lewes was good at both science and literature. This made him the perfect person to write about Goethe, who was also interested in many different fields. This book became well-known even in Germany.
His Work in Science
Around 1853, Lewes started focusing more on science, especially biology. Even though he didn't have formal scientific training, he had a strong scientific mind. He often questioned common ideas and did his own research.
He made several important suggestions in physiology. One of his most valuable ideas is about how nerves work. He suggested that all parts of the nervous system have the same basic property. Differences in how we sense things (like sight or hearing) come from the sense organs they are connected to, not from the nerves themselves. This idea was later also suggested by another scientist, Wilhelm Max Wundt.
His Philosophical Ideas
In 1865, Lewes became the editor of The Fortnightly Review, a well-known magazine. He held this job for almost two years.
Lewes was interested in philosophy from a young age. He was influenced by the ideas of Auguste Comte and John Stuart Mill. He came to believe that some philosophical questions, like the ultimate nature of things, could not be answered. He called these questions "metempirics." However, he believed that other philosophical questions could be solved using the scientific method.
His most important philosophical work is The Problems of Life and Mind. He died before finishing it, but it still shows his main ideas about biology, psychology, and philosophy.
Lewes believed that the mind and body are two sides of the same thing. He thought that mental processes and physical processes happen together. He also argued that all parts of the nervous system have a basic ability to feel, called "sensibility." This means that even the lower parts of the brain and spinal cord contribute to our mental life.
He also had important ideas about psychology. He believed that to understand the mind, we need to look at both our inner experiences (introspection) and our physical body (nervous system). He also stressed that our social environment and history play a big role in shaping our minds.
Lewes's work in psychology was more about new ways of thinking than about specific discoveries. He saw the mind as a complex whole. He believed that even our highest thoughts come from simpler feelings and instincts. His books are full of interesting facts about the mind, especially from unusual experiences. Lewes's main goal was to inspire and make people think, rather than to give a complete system of knowledge.
Death
George Henry Lewes passed away on November 30, 1878. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery in London, right behind the grave of George Eliot.
See also
In Spanish: George Henry Lewes para niños
- Emergence
- G. E. Moore
