Karl Christian Friedrich Krause facts for kids

Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (German: [ˈkʁaʊzə]; 6 May 1781 – 27 September 1832) was a German philosopher. His ideas became known as Krausism. In Germany, France, and Belgium, Krausism was not widely followed. However, it became very popular in Spain. There, it was known as "Krausismo," and its followers were called "Krausistas." In Spain, Krausism was more of a broad cultural movement than a strict philosophical system.

Early Life and Education

Krause was born in Eisenberg, Germany. His father, Johann, was a teacher and later a pastor. Karl's mother was Christiana Friederica Böhme.

University Studies

In 1797, Karl started studying at the University of Jena. He learned philosophy from famous thinkers like F. W. J. von Schelling and J. G. Fichte. He also attended classes in theology, science, and math. Karl earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1801. In 1802, he became a Privatdozent, which means he could teach at the university.

Family and Travels

In 1802, Krause married Sophie Amalie Concordia Fuchs. They had 14 children, and 12 of them lived longer than their parents. Because he didn't have many students, Krause moved to Rudolstadt in 1804. Later, he moved to Dresden, where he taught music.

In 1805, Krause joined the Freemasons. He believed their goal of a universal world-society was similar to his own ideas. He wrote two books about Freemasonry. However, his views caused some disagreement among the Masons.

Krause later lived in Berlin and taught there. He tried to become a professor but was not successful. He then moved back to Dresden, where he taught Arthur Schopenhauer. Finally, he moved to Munich. He died there in 1832. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof (Old South Cemetery) in Munich.

Krause's Main Ideas

Krause's philosophy is part of what is called Identitätsphilosophie [de] (philosophy of identity). This means it looks for the basic sameness between spirit and nature. His ideas also include "panentheism," which is a key part of his system.

Panentheism Explained

Krause tried to connect the idea of God (known through faith) with the world (known through our senses). He believed God is not a limited person but an all-inclusive essence that contains the entire universe.

Krause used the word panentheism (Panentheismus in German) to describe his ideas. This term combines parts of monotheism (belief in one God) and pantheism (belief that God is everything).

Krause first used the term "panentheism" in his book Vorlesungen über das System der Philosophie in 1828. He believed the world and humans are like an organism. The universe itself is a divine organism. He thought that everything develops towards higher unity, eventually becoming one with God.

Animal Rights

Krause was one of the first philosophers to argue for animal rights within a philosophy of law. In his book Das System der Rechtsphilosophie (published after his death in 1874), he said that non-human animals should have the right not to feel pain. He also believed they should have a right to general physical well-being. Krause thought animals are like persons, and their rights should be protected by law.

Influence and Writings

Krause's ideas were not as well-known in Germany as those of other philosophers like Schelling and Hegel. This was partly because his writings were sometimes hard to understand. He used many new or made-up words, which made his books difficult even for German readers.

His most important works include:

• Entwurf des Systems der Philosophie (1804)
• System der Sittenlehre (1810)
• Das Urbild der Menschheit (1811)

After his death, his students published many of his notes and ideas.

Krausism in Spain and Latin America

Krausism became very important in Spain in the 19th century. Julián Sanz del Río, a professor in Madrid, introduced Krause's ideas there. Krausism became popular in Spain because it combined scientific rationalism with Christian spirituality. It also supported individual freedom and opposed unfair power.

Spanish thinkers influenced by Krause include Francisco Giner de los Ríos and Gumersindo de Azcárate. Krause's ideas also spread to Latin America. They influenced leaders like Hipólito Yrigoyen, José Batlle y Ordóñez, and Juan José Arévalo. Some historians also suggest Krause influenced José Martí, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara.

Selected Publications

• Krause, Karl Christian Friedrich: Ausgewählte Schriften. Edited by Enrique M. Ureña and Erich Fuchs. Stuttgart: Frommann-Holzboog, ISBN: 978-3-7728-2340-4.
  • Vol. 1: Entwurf des Systemes der Philosophie. Erste Abtheilung enthaltend die allgemeine Philosophie, nebst einer Anleitung zur Naturphilosophie. Ed. by Thomas Bach and Olaf Breidbach. 2007, ISBN: 978-3-7728-2341-1.
  • Vol. 2: Philosophisch-freimaurerische Schriften (1808-1832). Ed. and introduced by Johannes Seidel, Enrique M. Ureña and Erich Fuchs. 2008, ISBN: 978-3-7728-2342-8.
  • Vol. 3: Vermischte Schriften. 2014, ISBN: 978-3-7728-2343-5.
  • Vol. 5: Das Urbild der Menschheit. Ein Versuch. Dresden 1811. 2017, ISBN: 978-3-7728-2345-9.
• Das System der Rechtsphilosophie (Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, 1874)

Images for kids

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  A robot, symbolizing technology and the future.

See also

In Spanish: Karl Christian Friedrich Krause para niños