Herbart and Herbartianism The widespread and increasing
influence of Herbart and his disciples in the work of education
makes a brief treatment of this German philosopher and
educationist desirable in the present work. John Frederick
Herbart, b. at Oldenburg, 1776; d. at Göttingen, 1841. He was
the son of a lawyer whose wife, a woman of brilliant parts, was
subsequently divorced from her husband. The child was delicate
and was at first educated by an able tutor under the supervision
of his mother. He exhibited extraordinary precocity, was of
quick intelligence and retentive memory, and showed remarkable
aptitude for mathematics, physical science and music. He began
logic at eleven and metaphysics at twelve; he went to the
gymnasium of his native town at thirteen and, after a
distinguished course there, passed to the University of Jena at
the age of eighteen to study law. This subject he neglected,
becoming an enthusiastic student of philosophy under Fichte,
then at the zenith of his fame. Herbart, however, wa