Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/307

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MODERN DANISH LITERATURE.
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for testing the results of philosophical deductions. His chief works are "Grundideernes Logik" (of which two volumes have been published) and "Natur og Aand," in which he develops his views of philosophy and nature. He has also written a great number of books and dissertations, partly purely scientific and partly popular in form. In all his writings as also in his professional lectures he is exceedingly eloquent.

A decided opponent of Nielsen's conception of the religious principle was Hans Bröchner (1820-76), professor of philosophy in the University of Copenhagen. Still he did not take the side of the theologians, but he may rather he said to have exercised a subtle negative criticism not upon theological views of Christianity, but also upon Christianity itself. He has made very valuable contributions to the history of philosophy, among which are his "Benedikt Spinoza," "Philosophiens historiske Udvikling," and "Philosophiens Historie i Grundrids."[1]

In the domain of natural sciences we must, above all, mention Hans Christian Oersted (1771-1851) the discoverer of electro-magnetism and the author of many valuable works on physics. His views concerning the philosophy of nature he has developed in a brilliant and attractive work, "Aanden i Naturen" (The soul in Nature). The following are also to be mentioned: the botanist, Joachim Frederik Schouw (1789-1852); the geologist and chemist, Johan Georg Forchhammer (1794-1864), and the zoölogist, Japetus Steenstrup (born 1813), who also has distinguished himself in archæology to which he has been led by his palæontological studies.[2]

  1. C. F. Sibbern: Om Poesie og Kunst, I-III, Copenhagen, 1853-69. Meddelelser af Indholdet af et Skrift fra Aaret 2135, Copenhagen, 1858-72. Efterladte Breve af Gabrielis, Copenhagen, 1826. Udaf Gabrielis Breve, Copenhagen, 1850. R. Nielsen: Grundideernes Logik, I-II, Copenhagen, 1864-66. Natur og Aand, Copenhagen, 1873. H. Bröchner: Benedikt Spinoza, Copenhagen, 1856. Bidrag til Opfattelsen af Philosophiens historiske Udvikling, Copenhagen, 1869. Philosophiens Historie i Grundrids, I-II, Copenhagen, 1873-74.
  2. H. C. Oersteds samlede og efterladte Skrifter, I-IX, Copenhagen, 1850-52. J.F. Schouw: Naturskildringer, Copenhagen, 1839. J. J. Steenstrup: Om Forplantning og Udvikling, gjennem vexlende Generationsrækker, Copenhagen, 1842. Undersögelser over Hermaphroditismens Tilværelse i Naturen, Copenhagen, 1846.