Lotze, << LOHT suh, >> Rudolf Hermann (1817-1881), was a German philosopher. He attempted to reconcile apparent conflicts between science and religion. Lotze influenced many thinkers of the 1800’s, notably the American philosopher Josiah Royce.
Lotze supported the mechanical interpretation of nature as the indispensable method of scientific research. This interpretation explains nature in terms of mechanical causes. Lotze denied that any separate nonmechanical principle accounted for organic existence. However, he insisted that the mechanical interpretation of nature has limits and that people’s moral values force them to think beyond scientific evidence. He formulated a theory in which nature acts according to a purpose and natural things have a spiritual character. Lotze believed the highest spiritual nature is a personal God, in whom all things exist. Lotze stated that God exercises His will through mechanical causes and the laws of nature.
Lotze was born on May 21, 1817, in Bautzen, in what is now Germany. He taught philosophy at the University of Gottingen. Lotze wrote many books, including Metaphysics (1841), Logic (1843), Microcosmus (1856-1864), and System of Philosophy (1874-1879). He died on July 1, 1881.
