# Hermann Lotze — A Pluralistic Universe character guide

> Hermann Lotze in A Pluralistic Universe by William James.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Lotze, Lotze and Royce

**First appearance:** 0001-lecture-ii-monistic-idealism

## Who they are

German philosopher whose work on pluralism and continuity is discussed.

## Relationships

### [Gustav Theodor Fechner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/characters/gustav_theodor_fechner)

_friendship_

Fechner and Lotze share a collegial respect, both exploring the intersection of psychology and metaphysics, though with differing emphases.

### [F. H. Bradley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/characters/f_h_bradley)

_professional_

Bradley engages with Lotze's teleological idealism, treating him as a significant interlocutor in the development of absolute idealism.

## In the story

### [Lecture I: The Types of Philosophic Thinking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/chapters/lecture-i-the-types-of-philosophic-thinking)

Listed alongside Fechner as one of the few original thinkers in Germany at the time.

### [Lecture II: Monistic Idealism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/chapters/lecture-ii-monistic-idealism)

His proof of monism from the interaction of finite things is paraphrased and critiqued as a purely verbal argument.

### [Lecture III: Hegel and His Method](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/chapters/lecture-iii-hegel-and-his-method)

Lotze's critique of Leibniz's fiat is cited to support James's argument that the absolute's self-refraction into finite experiences makes the world poorer, not richer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/characters/hermann_lotze
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_pluralistic_universe_se/characters