Ion Petrovici
Encyclopedia
Ion Petrovici Romanian philosopher, essayist, memorialist, writer, orator, and politician, professor at University of Iaşi, member of the Romanian Academy
, former Ministry of National Education, a leading figure in Romanian culture, was one of those scholars, men of art, culture, and science, that brought a major contribution in making the Romanian people, their culture and civilization, known to the world.
, as the son of Dimitrie Petrovici and Ortansa Petrovici, grandchild of Junimist poet Theodor Şerbănescu's sister. Between 1892 and 1899 he attends secondary school at Sf. Sava College in Bucharest
. In the autumn of 1899 he is admitted at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy in Bucharest
, having Titu Maiorescu
and Nicolae Iorga
as teachers. During the same autumn he presented his rhymed play O sărutare to the National Theatre of Bucharest
, which, recommended by I. L. Caragiale
, was played on March 21, 1900. He participated in the summer of 1904, as a member of a student delegation representing the University of Bucharest
, at the commemoration of 400 years since Stephen the Great
's death, that took place in Suceava
, being at that time under Austrian administration. In 1904 he got his university degree in Philosophy
with the dissertation O problemă de filosofie (A Philosophy Problem) and a year later, in June 1905, Ion Petrovici becomes the first Doctor of Philosophy
of a Romaniant university with the work Paralelismul psiho-fizic (Psychological-physical Parallelism). During the university year 1905-1906, for two semesters, he attends philosophy classes in Leipzig
, held by Wilhelm Wundt
and Hans Volkelt; and in Berlin
, where he attend the lectures of Friedrich Paulsen
, Wilhelm Dilthey
and Alois Riehl
. In November 1906 he is named lecturer in the Philosophy department at Iaşi University and in 1912 he is named professor. Between 1923 and 1926 he is dean at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy in Iaşi
. At the end of January 1932 he is invited to Sorbonna and to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in (Paris
), where he presents the lectures La Nationalité en Philosophie and L'Idée de néant. Begins collaboration with André Lalande and Paul Gaultier. On May 28, 1935 he is chosen member of the Romanian Academy
. In Octavian Goga
's government (1937–1938), Ion Petrovici becomes Ministry of National Education
; in this role he establishes a Philosophy department at Cluj University for Lucian Blaga
. In 1941 he accepts the Ministry of National Culture portfolio in Ion Antonescu
's government.
Surely, the posthumous fate of Ion Petrovici's work would have been different if after August 23, 1944, in his full creative force, at the beginning of the great political cleaning under the Communist regime, he wouldn't have been arrested and held until 1964, when he and other political prisoners are freed, at an age when no one can retrace the steps of a mind that would have wanted to be consistent.
On February 17, 1972, almost nonagenarian, Ion Petrovici, the last great representative of the maiorescian
school of Romanian thought, passes away in Bucharest
.
In Philosophy
, Ion Petrovici brought original contributions with his research in Logic
regarding the theory of notions and with his methaphisical
conception, the brings faith
and reason
together. Ion Petrovici was, in the interwar period
, the most known Romanian philosopher in the world. For decades he was a constant contributor to the most prestigious philosophy magazines in France
and Germany
, being invited, a number of times, to lead international congresses' works.
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
, former Ministry of National Education, a leading figure in Romanian culture, was one of those scholars, men of art, culture, and science, that brought a major contribution in making the Romanian people, their culture and civilization, known to the world.
Biography
Ion Petrovici was born on June 2/14 1882, in TecuciTecuci
Tecuci is a city in the Galaţi county of Romania , situated among wooded hills, on the right bank of the Bârlad River, and at the junction of railways from Galaţi, Bârlad and Mărăşeşti.-History:...
, as the son of Dimitrie Petrovici and Ortansa Petrovici, grandchild of Junimist poet Theodor Şerbănescu's sister. Between 1892 and 1899 he attends secondary school at Sf. Sava College in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. In the autumn of 1899 he is admitted at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, having Titu Maiorescu
Titu Maiorescu
Titu Liviu Maiorescu was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the Junimea Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Romanian culture in the second half of the 19th century....
and Nicolae Iorga
Nicolae Iorga
Nicolae Iorga was a Romanian historian, politician, literary critic, memoirist, poet and playwright. Co-founder of the Democratic Nationalist Party , he served as a member of Parliament, President of the Deputies' Assembly and Senate, cabinet minister and briefly as Prime Minister...
as teachers. During the same autumn he presented his rhymed play O sărutare to the National Theatre of Bucharest
National Theatre Bucharest
The National Theatre Bucharest is one of the national theatres of Romania, located in the capital city of Bucharest.-Founding:It was founded as the Teatrul cel Mare din Bucureşti in 1852, its first director being Costache Caragiale...
, which, recommended by I. L. Caragiale
Ion Luca Caragiale
Ion Luca Caragiale was a Wallachian-born Romanian playwright, short story writer, poet, theater manager, political commentator and journalist...
, was played on March 21, 1900. He participated in the summer of 1904, as a member of a student delegation representing the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
, at the commemoration of 400 years since Stephen the Great
Stephen III of Moldavia
Stephen III of Moldavia was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent representative of the House of Mușat.During his reign, he strengthened Moldavia and maintained its independence against the ambitions of Hungary, Poland, and the...
's death, that took place in Suceava
Suceava
Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
, being at that time under Austrian administration. In 1904 he got his university degree in 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...
with the dissertation O problemă de filosofie (A Philosophy Problem) and a year later, in June 1905, Ion Petrovici becomes the first Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
of a Romaniant university with the work Paralelismul psiho-fizic (Psychological-physical Parallelism). During the university year 1905-1906, for two semesters, he attends philosophy classes in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, held by Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt was a German physician, psychologist, physiologist, philosopher, and professor, known today as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. He is widely regarded as the "father of experimental psychology"...
and Hans Volkelt; and in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he attend the lectures of Friedrich Paulsen
Friedrich Paulsen
Friedrich Paulsen was a German philosopher and educator.-Biography:He was born at Langenhorn and educated at Erlangen, Bonn and Berlin, where he became extraordinary professor of philosophy and pedagogy in 1878...
, Wilhelm Dilthey
Wilhelm Dilthey
Wilhelm Dilthey was a German historian, psychologist, sociologist and hermeneutic philosopher, who held Hegel's Chair in Philosophy at the University of Berlin. As a polymathic philosopher, working in a modern research university, Dilthey's research interests revolved around questions of...
and Alois Riehl
Alois Riehl
The philosopher Alois Adolf Riehl was born in Bozen in Austria .The brother of Josef Riehl, he was a Neo-Kantian and worked as a professor at Graz, then Freiburg and finally in Berlin, where he commissioned Mies van der Rohe to design his house in Neubabelsberg.For Riehl, philosophy was not the...
. In November 1906 he is named lecturer in the Philosophy department at Iaşi University and in 1912 he is named professor. Between 1923 and 1926 he is dean at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
. At the end of January 1932 he is invited to Sorbonna and to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in (Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
), where he presents the lectures La Nationalité en Philosophie and L'Idée de néant. Begins collaboration with André Lalande and Paul Gaultier. On May 28, 1935 he is chosen member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
. In Octavian Goga
Octavian Goga
Octavian Goga was a Romanian politician, poet, playwright, journalist, and translator.-Life:Born in Răşinari, nearby Sibiu, he was an active member in the Romanian nationalistic movement in Transylvania and of its leading group, the Romanian National Party in Austria-Hungary. Before World War I,...
's government (1937–1938), Ion Petrovici becomes Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education can refer to:* Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs...
; in this role he establishes a Philosophy department at Cluj University for Lucian Blaga
Lucian Blaga
-Biography:Lucian Blaga was a commanding personality of the Romanian culture of the interbellum period. He was a philosopher and writer higly acclaimed for his originality, a university professor and a diplomat. He was born on May 9, 1895 in Lancrăm, near Alba Iulia, Romania, his father being an...
. In 1941 he accepts the Ministry of National Culture portfolio in Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
's government.
Surely, the posthumous fate of Ion Petrovici's work would have been different if after August 23, 1944, in his full creative force, at the beginning of the great political cleaning under the Communist regime, he wouldn't have been arrested and held until 1964, when he and other political prisoners are freed, at an age when no one can retrace the steps of a mind that would have wanted to be consistent.
On February 17, 1972, almost nonagenarian, Ion Petrovici, the last great representative of the maiorescian
Titu Maiorescu
Titu Liviu Maiorescu was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the Junimea Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Romanian culture in the second half of the 19th century....
school of Romanian thought, passes away in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
.
In 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...
, Ion Petrovici brought original contributions with his research in Logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
regarding the theory of notions and with his methaphisical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
conception, the brings faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and reason
Reason
Reason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, ...
together. Ion Petrovici was, in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, the most known Romanian philosopher in the world. For decades he was a constant contributor to the most prestigious philosophy magazines in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, being invited, a number of times, to lead international congresses' works.
In Romanian
- Paralelismul psiho-fizic (Psychological-physical Parallelism, 1905)
- Rolul şi însemnătatea filosofiei (The Purpose and Importance of Philosophy, 1907)
- Teoria noţiunilor. Studii de logică (Theory of Notions. Studies in Logics, 1910)
- Introducere în metafizică (Introduction to Metaphysics, 1924)
- Teoria noţiunilor (Theory of Notions, 1924)
- Studii istorico-filosofice (Historical-philosophical Studies, 1925)
- Viaţa şi opera lui Kant (The Life and Work of Kant, 1936)
- Schopenhauer (1937)
- Scrieri istorico-filosofice (Historical-philosophical Writings, 1943)
Other Languagesro
- Kant und das rumänische Denken (1927)
- La nationalité en philosophie (1932)
- Réflexions sur l'inconséquence (1934)
- La connaissance humaine et le transcendent (1937)
- La philosophie du compromis (1937)
Literary Writings
- Raite prin ţară (Wandering through the Country, 1926)
- Impresii din Italia (Impressions of Italy, 1930)
- Deasupra zbuciumului (Above Distress, 1932)
- Rotocoale de lumină (Circles of Light, 1934)
- Figuri dispărute (Missing Shapes, 1937)
- Prin meandrele trecutului. Evocări inedite (Through Meanderings of the Past. New Recollections, 1979, posthumous)
- Însemnări de drum (Travel Notes, 1983, posthumous)