Anathon Aall
Encyclopedia
Anathon August Fredrik Aall (15 August 1867 – 9 January 1943) was a Norwegian academic. Originally educated as a theologian
, he was rejected for a professorship in this field, and switched to philosophy
and psychology
. He ultimately became a professor of philosophy in Kristiania
.
as a son of vicar Niels Anton Aall (1833–1896) and his wife Mathilde Susanne Dahl (1842–1910). He was the brother of jurist and Fascist politician Herman Harris Aall, and a grandson of Hans Cato Aall. He was also a great-great-great-grandson of Nicolai Benjamin Aall
, and a great-great-grandnephew of Niels, Jørgen
and Jacob Aall.
From 1899 he was married to Cathrine Antonie Langaard, a daughter of businessman Conrad Langaard
. She died in 1926. In October 1928 he married Austria
n citizen Lily Weiser (1898–1987), an ethnologist; she took the name Lily Weiser Aall. Also, his sister Marna was married to philosopher Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars
from 1895 to 1910. Anathon Aall biographed Aars in the first volume of the first edition of the biographical dictionary
Norsk biografisk leksikon
.
his secondary education in Stavanger
in 1886, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the degree cand.theol.
in 1892. From 1893 to 1897 he undertook religious studies
in four European countries. In 1897 he applied for a position as professor of church history at the Royal Frederick University, but he was rejected as the assessment committee found that he was "deviating from the faith of our Church
", and hence was "unfit" to lecture for priestly candidates.
After this he studied philosophy
in the United Kingdom and experimental psychology
in Germany. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
already in 1898. He published several works, including the 1903 thesis
Über die Wirkung der Wiederholung eines Elementes bei gleichzeitiger Vorführung mehrerer Schriftzeichen. He worked as a lecturer at the University of Halle-Wittenberg
from 1904 to 1908. He was appointed as a professor of philosophy at the Royal Frederick University in 1908. In addition to researching philosophy, he published works on the history of ideas
, and also helped create the Department of Philosophy, which he led until his retirement in 1937. He was the dean of the Faculty of Humanities from 1918 to 1921, and a visiting scholar
at the Columbia University
from 1924 to 1925.
Aall was also involved in temperance
work, as well as promoting international peace. He died in January 1943 in Lunner
. His private correspondence and notes are kept by the National Library of Norway.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, he was rejected for a professorship in this field, and switched to philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. He ultimately became a professor of philosophy in Kristiania
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
.
Personal life
He was born in NessebyNesseby
Unjárga or Nesseby is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Varangerbotn....
as a son of vicar Niels Anton Aall (1833–1896) and his wife Mathilde Susanne Dahl (1842–1910). He was the brother of jurist and Fascist politician Herman Harris Aall, and a grandson of Hans Cato Aall. He was also a great-great-great-grandson of Nicolai Benjamin Aall
Nicolai Benjamin Aall
-Personal life:Nicolai Benjamin Aall was born in 1739 as the first son of Niels Jacobsen Aall and Benedicte Henrikke Bergh from Moss. Niels Jacobsen Aall was born in London, but moved to Porsgrund in 1712. Benedicte Henrikke was the second of three wives. Nicolai Benjamin's younger half-brother...
, and a great-great-grandnephew of Niels, Jørgen
Jørgen Aall
Jørgen Aall was a Norwegian ship-owner and politician.-Personal life:Jørgen Aall was born in 1771 as the second son of Nicolai Benjamin Aall and Amborg Jørgensdatter , née Wesseltoft. In total he had three brothers and three sisters...
and Jacob Aall.
From 1899 he was married to Cathrine Antonie Langaard, a daughter of businessman Conrad Langaard
Conrad Langaard
Conrad Christian Parnemann Langaard was a Norwegian businessperson.He was born in Lillesand as a son of sea captain Mads Christian Langaard and Ellevine Ellefsen...
. She died in 1926. In October 1928 he married Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n citizen Lily Weiser (1898–1987), an ethnologist; she took the name Lily Weiser Aall. Also, his sister Marna was married to philosopher Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars
Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars
Kristian Birch-Reichenwald Aars was a Norwegian academic. Originally educated as a theologian, he soon switched to philosophy and psychology.-Personal life:...
from 1895 to 1910. Anathon Aall biographed Aars in the first volume of the first edition of the biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionaries – a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information – have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country...
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
.
Career
Aall's family moved a lot during his early years, since his father was a priest. Aall finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
in 1886, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the degree cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
in 1892. From 1893 to 1897 he undertook religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
in four European countries. In 1897 he applied for a position as professor of church history at the Royal Frederick University, but he was rejected as the assessment committee found that he was "deviating from the faith of our Church
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
", and hence was "unfit" to lecture for priestly candidates.
After this he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in the United Kingdom and experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
in Germany. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
already in 1898. He published several works, including the 1903 thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
Über die Wirkung der Wiederholung eines Elementes bei gleichzeitiger Vorführung mehrerer Schriftzeichen. He worked as a lecturer at the University of Halle-Wittenberg
University of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
from 1904 to 1908. He was appointed as a professor of philosophy at the Royal Frederick University in 1908. In addition to researching philosophy, he published works on the history of ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
, and also helped create the Department of Philosophy, which he led until his retirement in 1937. He was the dean of the Faculty of Humanities from 1918 to 1921, and a visiting scholar
Visiting scholar
In the world of academia, a visiting scholar or visiting academic is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university, where he or she is projected to teach , lecture , or perform research on a topic the visitor is valued for...
at the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
from 1924 to 1925.
Aall was also involved in temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
work, as well as promoting international peace. He died in January 1943 in Lunner
Lunner
Lunner is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Roa...
. His private correspondence and notes are kept by the National Library of Norway.