Paul Janet

Paul Janet studied at École Normale Supérieure. The recorded working language is French. The field of work recorded is philosophy. Victor Cousin is recorded as an influence. Places of work recorded in the authority are Paris. Employment is recorded with University of Paris. Positions recorded include president. Distinctions recorded are Commander of the Legion of Honour and Jean Reynaud Prize.

• Region — Western philosophy • Era — 19th-century philosophy • School Tradition — French spiritualism • Name — Paul Janet • Birth Name — Paul Alexandre René Janet • Born — 30 April 1823 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 4 October 1899 • Place of death — Paris, France • Institutions — University of Bourges University of Strasbourg University of Paris • Education — École Normale Supérieure • Academic Advisors — Victor Cousin • Doctoral Students — Henri Bergson • Main Interests — Metaphysics, ethics

Born in Paris, he became professor of moral philosophy at the University of Bourges (1845–1848) and the University of Strasbourg (1848–1857), and of logic at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Paris (1857–1864). In 1864 he was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the Sorbonne, and elected a member of the academy of moral and political sciences. He wrote widely on philosophy, politics and ethics, on idealistic lines: La Famille, Histoire de la philosophie dans l'antiquité et dans le temps moderne, Histoire de la science politique, and Philosophie de la Révolution Française. However, in the opinion of Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911), these writings are not characterised by much originality of thought. In philosophy, he was a follower of Victor Cousin, and through him of G. W. F. Hegel. His principal work, La morale (1874), owes much to Immanuel Kant. Charles Darwin was familiar with Janet's ideas, but thought that he had not well understood the theory of natural selection, as he indicated in a letter of 1866 to Alfred Russel Wallace: As for M. Janet he is a metaphysician & such gentlemen are so acute that I think they often misunderstand common folk. Paul was the uncle of Pierre Janet.

• The Materialism of the Present Day, a Critique of Dr. Büchner's System, London: Williams and Norgate, 1865 (translated of the original French work into English by George Masson),

Paul Janet was recorded at birth as Paul-Alexandre-René Janet. The authorities additionally record the heading Paul Alexandre René Janet. His recorded language was French. He was the child of Pierre-Honoré Janet. One child is recorded: Paul Janet.

Paul Janet worked in philosophy. His work is associated with eclecticism. He was employed by University of Paris. Recorded position is president. He belonged to Hellenic Philological Society of Constantinople, Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He worked at Paris.

Paul Janet is recorded with the occupation philosopher. Recorded as philosopher and writer.