Background
Der Mouw, Johan Andreas was born on July 24, 1862 in Westervoort.
Der Mouw, Johan Andreas was born on July 24, 1862 in Westervoort.
Classical Philology, University of Leyden. Infis: E. von Hartmann. In his later period, Indian Buddhism and mysticism.
Taught Greek and Latin at secondary school, 1890-1903. Private teacher and poet from 1903.
Der Mouw criticized very sharply Bolland’s Philosophy, especially in its use of language with its ambiguous concepts and its metaphysical speculation. He saw no essential difference between this kind of absolute idealism and solipsism. Der Mouw remained a critical idealist, taking into account the reality of the world outside us. however unknown it may be. Certainty is to be found only in one’s own mind, which is related to reality in a certain way; the personal ‘I’ is not isolated from the world as a whole. In his later development Der Mouw elaborated this view in connection with his interest in Buddhism. Especially in his poetry he broadened the scope of the individual mind by experiencing it as a part of the totality of the universe. He called himself ‘Adwaita’. His poems are written out of a feeling of unity with the universe, the All-One. He opposed this form of mystic religion strongly to the Christian faith, which he attacked in a sharp manner.