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world soul

(Encyclopedia)world soul, Lat. anima mundi, in philosophy, term denoting a universal spirit or soul that functions as an organizing principle. While many early Greek philosophers saw the world as of one principle, ...

Erlenmeyer, Richard A. C. E.

(Encyclopedia)Erlenmeyer, Richard A. C. E. ĕrˈlənmīˌər [key], 1825–1909, German chemist. He studied at Giessen under Justus von Liebig and at Heidelberg under Friedrich Kekulé, both German chemists. Erlenm...

Menger, Carl

(Encyclopedia)Menger, Carl kärl mĕngˈər [key], 1840–1921, Austrian economist, a founder of the Austrian school of economics. He was professor of economics at the Univ. of Vienna from 1873 until 1903, when he ...

classicism

(Encyclopedia)classicism, a term that, when applied generally, means clearness, elegance, symmetry, and repose produced by attention to traditional forms. It is sometimes synonymous with excellence or artistic qual...

Schomberg, Frederick Herman, 1st duke of

(Encyclopedia)Schomberg, Frederick Herman, 1st duke of schŏmˈbərg [key], Ger. Friedrich Hermann von Schönberg, 1615–90, German soldier of fortune. After serving on the Protestant side in the Thirty Years War,...

metaphysics

(Encyclopedia)metaphysics mĕtəfĭzˈĭks [key], branch of philosophy concerned with the ultimate nature of existence. It perpetuates the Metaphysics of Aristotle, a collection of treatises placed after the Physic...

Struve

(Encyclopedia)Struve shtro͞oˈvə [key], family of astronomers. Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve, 1793–1864, was born in Germany but later lived in Russia. While director (1817–39) of Dorpat Observatory he w...

Leichhardt, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig

(Encyclopedia)Leichhardt, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig frēˈdrĭkh vĭlˈhĕlm lo͞odˈvĭkh līkhˈhärt [key], 1813–1848?, Prussian explorer of Australia. He led (1844–45) an expedition from Moreton Bay to Port ...

Ludwig, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm

(Encyclopedia)Ludwig, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm kärl frēˈdrĭkh vĭlˈhĕlm lo͞otˈvĭkh [key], 1816–95, German physiologist. He became world famous as professor (from 1865) and head of the physiological institu...

Argelander, Friedrich Wilhelm August

(Encyclopedia)Argelander, Friedrich Wilhelm August frēˈdrĭkh vĭlˈhĕlm ouˈgo͝ost ärˈgəländər [key], 1799–1875, German astronomer. He became director of the observatory at the Univ. of Bonn in 1837 and...

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