Bernard Jan Hendrik Ovlnk

Background

Ovlnk, Bernard Jan Hendrik was born on July 24, 1862.

Education

Classical Philology ant* Philosophy, University of Utrecht.

Career

Taught Greek and Latin at secondary schools. Professor of Philosophy, University of Utrecht, 1913-1932.

Views

Ovink's philosophy had its starting-point in the Marburg neo-Kantian interpretation of Kant’s Philosophy. Human knowledge is based on an unchangeable and irreducible a priori. There is no need for any metaphysical basis; the only task for Philosophy is to analyse and to determine the logical form of all knowledge and science. Philosophy is therefore nothing more than critictsm of knowledge or, in other words, selfreflection of reason. Nevertheless human reason ls restricted and finite and it must be supplied by faith. Philosophy has a very modest task because human wisdom is superseded by divine wisdom. True morality is therefore based on Christian faith. His last book, on philosophy and sophistry (1940), especially, claims the value of philosophy to be no more than a critical tool. Ovink’s •nfluence was great. His pupils organized themselves into the ‘Genootschap voor Critische Philosophie’ [Society for Critical Philosophy] in 1923. The society continued under slightly different names until 1982.

Interests

• Theory of knowledge; philosophy of religion.

• Philosophers & Thinkers

  Personal influences included Van der Wyck and Spruyt, philosophical influences included Plato, Kant and Natorp.