Background
Bergman, Samuel Hugo was born on December 25, 1883 in Prague.
editor Librarian philosopher translator
Bergman, Samuel Hugo was born on December 25, 1883 in Prague.
1900 06, studied Philosophy in Universities of Prague and Berlin.
Librarian. Prague University Library, 1907-1919. First Director, the National and University Library, Jerusalem, 1920-1935. Lecturer, Professor of Philosophy, then first Rector, Hebrew University, Jersualem.
1928-1938; founder and elected member of the executive of the Histadrut haOvedim [Israeli Trade Union Party]. Founder of journal, Kiryat Sefer, editor of the latter and of general philosophy for the Encyclopaedia Hebraica, and philosophical quarterly, lyyun. Member of Ha Po’el ha-Za’ir and Brit Shalom, left-wing peace organizations, becoming their main spokesman.
Headed the Jewish delegation from Palestine to the Pan-Asiatic Conference, New Delhi, 1947. Awarded Israel Prize for Humanities for his work on logic, Mavo le-Torat ha-Higgayon.
Bergman was an ardent Zionist, who espoused peaceful coexistence with the Arabs, as well as being one of the early pioneers of modern Israeli philosophy. As a student he was influenced by anti-Kantian Christian philosophy as well as by Edmund Husserl and Rudolph Steiner. Later influences included Kant and the neo-Kantanians. especially Hermann Cohen and Ernst ( assirer. In his religious philosophy he utilized aspects of Indian and Christian teachings, as well as the anthropomorphic ideas of Steiner. Like Martin Buber he saw faith as direct, lived experience, which he called ‘dialogic’. His works on the history of philosophy, and his translations into Hebrew of Solomon Maimon. Kant and Husserl, have proved of great value and influence. Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica; National Union Catalog; Schoeps.
Philosophy of science. Philosopy of religion. Politic philosophy; perception.
Epistemology; mysticism.
Significant personal influences inlcude Franz Kafka. Max Brod, Emil Utiz, Einstein, Bernard Bolzano, Franz Brentano, Edmund Husserl, Rudolf Steiner and Martin Buber. Philosophically, influenced by Kant and the neo-Kantian school of Hermann Cohen. Religiously he was influenced by Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig and Sri Aurobindo.