A German sociologist and philosopher who developed the concept of "total social mobilization" and explored the relationship between technology, politics, and society. He's known for his critiques of modernity and the effects of industrialization.
Hans Freyer was a renowned German sociologist and philosopher, best known for founding the Leipzig School of sociology, a branch of sociology with a strong historical basis, and his influential works on the philosophy of life, which had a significant impact on the German youth movement.
Freyer was born on July 31, 1887, in Leipzig, Germany. He began his academic journey at the University of Greifswald in 1907, initially studying theology, national economics, history, and philosophy with the aim of becoming a Lutheran theologian.
However, a year later, he moved to Leipzig, where he continued his studies, eventually giving up theology to focus on philosophy and sociology. He earned his doctorate in 1911.
Freyer's early works on the philosophy of life had a profound impact on the German youth movement. In 1920, he qualified as a university lecturer, and in 1922, he became a professor at the University of Kiel.
In 1925, he moved to the University of Leipzig, where he founded the university's sociology department, which he led until 1948. During this period, he developed the Leipzig School of sociology, a branch of sociology with a strong historical basis.
Freyer's career was not without controversy. He sympathized with the Hitlerite movement and, in 1933, forced Ferdinand Tönnies, an outspoken enemy of the movement, out of office as president of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Soziologie.
That same year, Freyer signed the Vow of allegiance of the Professors of the German Universities and High-Schools to Adolf Hitler and the National Socialistic State. However, as Tönnies' successor, he abstained from making the Gesellschaft a Nazi tool by stopping all activities from 1934 onwards.
Freyer was a Protestant and married Käthe Lübeck, with whom he had four children. His personal relationships and anecdotes are not well-documented, but it is clear that his family life was an important aspect of his life.
After the Second World War, Freyer's position in Leipzig, now in the Soviet occupation zone, became untenable, and in 1948, he took up a position in Wiesbaden at the Brockhaus publishing company.
Although his career was marked by controversy, Freyer's contributions to sociology and philosophy are undeniable. He played a significant role in shaping the discipline of sociology, and his works continue to influence scholars today.
Freyer passed away on January 18, 1969, leaving behind a legacy as a prominent German conservative revolutionary sociologist and philosopher.
These quotes give a glimpse into Freyer's philosophical views, which emphasized the importance of the state and the role of sociology in understanding society.
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