G. T. Fechner: Difference between revisions

From Theosophy Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
<blockquote>I may answer you, what I said to G. H. Fechner one day, when he wanted to know the Hindu view on what he had written — "You are right; . . . 'every diamond, every crystal, every plant and star has its own individual soul, besides man and animal . . .' and, 'there is a hierarchy of souls from the lowest forms of matter up to the World Soul' . . ."<ref>Theosophy Wiki [[Mahatma Letter No. 18#Page 13|Mahatma Letter No. 18, pages 13-14]].</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>I may answer you, what I said to G. H. Fechner one day, when he wanted to know the Hindu view on what he had written — "You are right; . . . 'every diamond, every crystal, every plant and star has its own individual soul, besides man and animal . . .' and, 'there is a hierarchy of souls from the lowest forms of matter up to the World Soul' . . ."<ref>Theosophy Wiki [[Mahatma Letter No. 18#Page 13|Mahatma Letter No. 18, pages 13-14]].</ref></blockquote>


When Prof. G. T. Fechner was asked about having met a Hindu at Leipzig, he said he did, although said that the name of the Hindu concerned was Nisi Kanta Chattopadhyaya, not Koot Hoomi. The following was reported about him:
When Prof. G. T. Fechner was asked about having met a Hindu at Leipzig, he said he did, although clarifying that the name of the Hindu concerned was [[Nisi Kanta Chattopadhyaya]], not Koot Hoomi. Some [[Theosophist]]s thought this was a pseudonym used by Master K.H. However, in an article published in [[The Canadian Theosophist (periodical)|''The Canadian Theosophist'']], [[Charles J. Ryan]] showed that this was not the case, and sought to correct the idea that the "G. H. Fechner" mentioned in the letter was psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner.<ref>Charles J. Ryan, "An Important Correction," ''The Canadian Theosophist'' (December 15, 1936), 326-329. Accessed online at Blavatsky Archives [http://blavatskyarchives.com/ryancorrection.htm]. See also Cox's work, ''Who Wrote the March-Hare Attack on the Mahatma Letters?'' Victoria, British Columbia, Canada:  H.P.B. Library, 1936.</ref>
 
<blockquote>In the middle of the seventies he lived for about one year in Leipzig and aroused a certain interest owing to his foreign nationality, without being otherwise conspicuous. He was introduced to several families and became a member of the Academic Philosphical Society ... where on one occasion he gave a lecture o Buddhism...<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 230-231.</ref></blockquote>
 
[[Nisi Kanta Chattopadhyaya]] was erroneously thought to have been a pseudonym for Master K.H. In an article published in [[The Canadian Theosophist (periodical)|''The Canadian Theosophist'']], [[Charles J. Ryan]] sought to correct the idea that the "G. H. Fechner" mentioned in the letter was psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner.<ref>Charles J. Ryan, "An Important Correction," ''The Canadian Theosophist'' (December 15, 1936), 326-329. Accessed online at Blavatsky Archives [http://blavatskyarchives.com/ryancorrection.htm]. See also Cox's work, ''Who Wrote the March-Hare Attack on the Mahatma Letters?'' Victoria, British Columbia, Canada:  H.P.B. Library, 1936.</ref>


== Writings ==
== Writings ==

Revision as of 18:06, 12 June 2019

Gustav Theodor Fechner (April 19, 1801 – November 18, 1887), was a German experimental psychologist. He was (provably erroneously) thought to be the "G. H. Fechner" mentioned by Master K.H. in one of his letters:

I may answer you, what I said to G. H. Fechner one day, when he wanted to know the Hindu view on what he had written — "You are right; . . . 'every diamond, every crystal, every plant and star has its own individual soul, besides man and animal . . .' and, 'there is a hierarchy of souls from the lowest forms of matter up to the World Soul' . . ."[1]

When Prof. G. T. Fechner was asked about having met a Hindu at Leipzig, he said he did, although clarifying that the name of the Hindu concerned was Nisi Kanta Chattopadhyaya, not Koot Hoomi. Some Theosophists thought this was a pseudonym used by Master K.H. However, in an article published in The Canadian Theosophist, Charles J. Ryan showed that this was not the case, and sought to correct the idea that the "G. H. Fechner" mentioned in the letter was psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner.[2]

Writings

On Life After Death. Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Company, 1917. 3rd edition.

Notes

  1. Theosophy Wiki Mahatma Letter No. 18, pages 13-14.
  2. Charles J. Ryan, "An Important Correction," The Canadian Theosophist (December 15, 1936), 326-329. Accessed online at Blavatsky Archives [1]. See also Cox's work, Who Wrote the March-Hare Attack on the Mahatma Letters? Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: H.P.B. Library, 1936.