Philosopher who founded eclecticism and steered education policy under the July Monarchy
Born in Paris in 1792, a watchmaker's son, he studied at the École Normale. As Royer-Collard's assistant he taught philosophy at the Sorbonne and founded eclecticism, a blend of German idealism and Scottish philosophy; in Germany he befriended Hegel. In the reaction of 1821–1822 he lost his posts, and in Berlin in 1824–1825 he was imprisoned for six months. Recalled in 1828, he drew crowds to his lectures. After the July Revolution he joined the council of public instruction, became a peer in 1832 and was minister of public instruction under Thiers in 1840. As director of the École Normale he was virtual head of the university and pushed primary education. After the coup of 1851 he lost his post on the superior council and stood aloof from the Empire.
Activities and affiliations
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1815–1830
French monarchy state institutionsLecturer in philosophy at the Sorbonne
Scholarship and theory -
1830–1851
France state institutionsMinister of Public Instruction; director of the École NormaleMain
Education -
1832–1848
France state institutionsPeer of France
Legislature and state representation
Career Timeline
- 1815Begins teaching philosophy at the Faculty of Letters and the École Normale
- 1821Deprived of his teaching posts
- 1828Recalled to his chair
- 1832Peer of France
- 1840Minister of Public Instruction (Thiers cabinet)