Chronological table to the life of Gustav Theodor Fechner  

 

19.04.1801  Fechner was born as the son of a Protestant pastor, Samuel Traugott Fechner, and his wife Johanna Dorothea Fechner, née Fischer, at Gross-Särchen in Nether Lusatia (now Zarki Wielkie, Poland).

1806          Death of his father (July 11^th).

1806          Upbringing: together with his brother Eduard Clemens (born Aug. 21^st, 1799) in Wurzen at the house of his uncle Gottlieb Eusebius Fischer, a Protestant pastor and brother of his mother, and his wife Karoline Friederike, née Burdach, from 1810 on in Ranis (Thuringia).

1814          Confirmation in Ranis – return to Nether Lusatia: attendance of grammar school in Sorau (until 1815).

1815-1816   Move to Dresden with his mother, brother and sisters. – Attendance of the famous Kreuzschule in Dresden.

1816-1817   Attendance of the Medico-Surgical Academy at Dresden.

1817          Enrolment at Leipzig University (May 19^th), study of medicine.

1819          Bachelor of Medicine (exam Nov. 3^rd).

1821          Beweis, dass der Mond aus Jodine bestehe (Proof that the Moon is Made of Iodine), Fechner’s first satirical book written under the pseudonym of ‘Dr. Mises’.

1822          Medical degree (March 16^th). - Satire Panegyrikus der jetzigen Medizin (Panegyric on Contemporary Medicine).

1823          M. A. (Magister of Arts) (Febr. 3^rd), Doctorate/ Postdoctoral thesis on Praemissae ad theoriam organismi generalem (Premises Toward a General Theory of Organisms) (Sept. 6^th) - First lecture at Leipzig University: “Gratis Examinatorium” in physiology (Oct.)

1824          Translation of the works of J. F. Demonferrand Textbook of Dynamic Electricity (Handbuch der dynamischen Elektrizität), L. Rostan Investigations on the Softening of the Brain (Untersuchungen über die Erweichungen des Gehirns) and J.-B. Biot Textbook of Experimental Physics or Natural Science of Empirical Knowledge (Lehrbuch der Experimentalphysik oder Erfahrungs-Naturlehre) (vols. 1 and 2). - First lectures on physics - Satire Stapelia mixta (by Dr. Mises). – Election to the Academic Court of Leipzig University as assessor (Oct. 16^th) - Fechner's mother moves to Leipzig.

1825          Journey together with Martin Gottlob Schulze to the Sudeten Mountains - Translation of Biot's Textbook of Experimental Physics (vols. 3 and 4) - Satire Vergleichende Anatomie der Engel (Comparative Anatomy of Angels (by Dr. Mises).

1825-1830   Translation of L. J. Thénard's Textbook of Theoretical and Practical Chemistry (Lehrbuch der theoretischen und praktischen Chemie) (vols. 1 – 7, with supplements by Fechner). - New circle of friends "Eranion" (Hermann Härtel, Julius und Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann, Christian Hermann Weiße, Karl Hase etc.)

1826          First treatises on natural sciences in the Archiv für die gesammte Naturlehre (Archives for Comprehensive Natural Sciences) in Nuremberg

1827          Study trip to Paris (via Bavaria and Switzerland) with a scholarship of the Saxon state, meeting with the French scientists A. M. Ampère, J.-B. Biot, F. Savart and L. J. Thénard (late summer/autumn). - Four essays on chemistry.

1827-1829   Emulations of Georg Simon Ohm's experiments on the strength of electric currents and voltage drop, correspondence with Ohm.

1828          Essay on the atomic model derived from the planetary system, the first of this kind in the history of physics. - First psychological experiments on the subjective perception of colours.

1828-1829   Second edition of Biot’s Textbook of Experimental Physics, Fechner publishes the 3^rd volume under his own name under the title Lehrbuch des Galvanismus und der Elektrochemie (Textbook of Galvanism and Electrochemistry) and includes a model for a needle telegraph. - 15 treatises on chemistry and electrophysics, mainly in Schweiggers Journal für Physik und Chemie.

1830-1834   Collaboration on the Pharmaceutisches Central-Blatt, the first abstract journal among German technical journals.

1830          Elementar-Lehrbuch des Elektromagnetismus, nebst Beschreibung der hauptsächlichen elektromagnetischen Apparate (Basic Textbook of Electromagnetism and Description of the Major Electromagnetic Devices)

1831          Appointment as associate professor of physics at Leipzig University. - Massbestimmungen über die galvanische Kette (On the Measurement of the Galvanic Chain), Fechner's most important book on physics and one of the most important monographs at the beginning of electricity science.

1832          Repertorium der Experimentalphysik (Register of Experimental Physics), (3 vols.) - Satire Schutzmittel für die Cholera (Protection Measures for Cholera) (by Dr. Mises).

1833          Collaboration on Leipziger Literatur-Zeitung - Wedding with Clara Volkmann (April 18^th)

1834          Appointment as full professor of physics at Leipzig University (Oct. 3^rd).-Accommodation of his 10-year-old nephew Johannes Emil Kuntze.

1834-1838   Publication of the Haus-Lexikon. Vollständiges Handbuch praktischer Lebenskenntnisse für alle Stände (Household Lexicon) (8 vols.)

1835          Essays on Friedrich Rückert and Heinrich Heine. - Disputation to De variis intensitatem vis galvanicae metiendi methodis (Dec. 14^th). - Inaugural lecture as full professor (Dec. 16^th).

1836          Das Büchlein vom Leben nach dem Tode (Booklet of Life after Death) as a contribution to the discussion of immortality in German philosophy.

1837          Joining of the Leipzig Kunstverein (art society). - Move to the estate of his friend Hermann Härtel.

1838          Further experiments on the subjectivity of optical phenomena.

1839          Ueber einige Bilder zur Leipziger Kunstausstellung (Concerning some pictures at the Leipzig Art Exhibition), Fechner's first booklet on aesthetical problems. – Beginning of a long series of illnesses (Dec.) lasting until 1844.

1841          Election as Corresponding Member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences Berlin (March 25^th) and of the Accademia reale delle szienze Turin – Gedichte (Anthology of Poems)

1843          Retirement of Fechner. - Appointment of Wilhelm Weber to the chair of physics (May). - Worst period of his illness (August), convalescence beginning in Oct.

1844          Journey to the Harz Mountains in Germany, visiting Wilhelm von Kügelgen in Ballenstedt and Rudolf Hermann Lotze in Göttingen (July).

1845          Foundation of the ‘Sächsische Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften’ (Royal Saxon Academy of Sciences) (April 7^th). – Last treatise on electrophysics: Über die Verknüpfung der Faraday’schen Induktionserscheinungen mit den Ampèr’schen elektrodynamischen Erscheinungen (Concerning the correlation between the Faradayan induction phenomenon and the Ampèrian electrodynamic phenomena)

1846          Satire Vier Paradoxe (Four Paradoxes) by Dr. Mises. – Resumption of his lectures, at first on Moral Philosophy: Über die letzten Dinge und die Willensfreiheit (On the last things and the freedom of will) (June 6^th) - First treatise on Ethics: Über das höchste Gut (On the Highest Good) – Member of the Mathematics-Physics-Class of the Royal Saxon Academy of Sciences Leipzig (July 1^st).

1847          Lecture: Introduction to Natural Philosophy (April).

1848          Member of the Liberal German Society of Leipzig (April) – Articles on political (constitutional) issues. – Nanna oder das Seelenleben der Pflanzen (Nanna, or Concerning the Mental Life of Plants). - Clara Fechner's fairytale-book Die schwarze Tante (The Black Aunt) with illustrations by Ludwig Richter. -

1849          Lectures on the mathematical investigation of organic forms and processes (May 18^th) and on the Law of Causality in the Royal Saxon Academy of Sciences. – Beginn of lectures on general anthropology (Oct.)

1850          Beginning of a lecture on the emergence and development of mankind (Oct.). – Sudden insight to the formula of psychophysics (Oct. 22^nd). - Räthselbüchlein (Booklet of Riddles) by Dr. Mises.

1851          Zend-Avesta oder über die Dinge des Himmels und des Jenseits (Zend-Avesta, or Concerning Matters of Heaven and the Hereafter) – Regular experiments on psychophysics, supported by his brother-in-law Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann. – Excursus “Short Explanation of a New Principle of Mathematical Psychology”

1853          Beginning of the lectures On Body and Soul (Oct.). - Zur Kritik der Grundlagen von Herbart’s Metaphysik (Critical discussion of Herbart's philosophy)

1853-54      Editorship of the Centralblatt für Naturwissenschaften und Anthropologie

1854          Cooperation with Wilhelm Gottlieb Hankel concerning the translation of the French physicist F. D. Arago (16 vols. 1854-1860).

1855          Über die physikalische und philosophische Atomenlehre (On physical and philosophical atomic theories) stating Fechner's view on the atomic structure of materia.

1856          Polemic article Professor Schleiden und der Mond (Professor Schleiden and the moon).

1857          Honorary doctor of Leipzig University at the faculty of medicine  -

First lecture on Elemente der Psychophysik (Elements of Psychophysics) (April), and continuing with Spezielle Psychophysik (Special psychophysics) (Oct.)

1858          First contributions to Das Maß des Psychischen (Measurements of the Psychic) – First lecture on psychophysical measuring methods (Apr.).

1859          Presentation on the psychophysical basic law and its relevance to the assessment of the size of stars. – Admission to the “Leopoldina” (Academy of Natural Scientists) in Halle.

1860          Elemente der Psychophysik (Elements of Psychophysics) (2 vols.), being Fechner's most eminent contribution to the founding of experimental psychology.

1861          Über die Seelenfrage. Ein Gang durch die sichtbare Welt, um die unsichtbare zu finden (philosophical supplement to the Elements of Psychophysics).

1863          Presentation Über das ästhetische Gesetz des Goldenen Schnitts (On the Law of Aesthetics in the Golden Section), held in the Art Academy of Leipzig (March 8^th). - Die drei Motive und Gründe des Glaubens (The Three Motives and Grounds of Faith) containing important statements on methodology.

1866          First publications on the Principle of Association in Aesthetics, and on the painting Holbein Madonna by Holbein the Younger. - Death of his friend Christian Hermann Weiße.

1867          Journey to Darmstadt, Freiburg and Basle in connection with the studies on the Holbein Madonna.

1871          Über die Aechtheitsfrage der Holbeinschen Madonna (On the authenticity of the Holbein Madonna) (Preface July 24^th). - Public survey concerning Holbein’s painting – Fechner submits a questionnaire to the visitors of the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden. - Treatise Zur experimentalen Ästhetik (On Experimental Aesthetics).

1872          Termination of the studies on Holbein’s Madonna – Report on the questionnaire submitted in the Gemäldegalerie Dresden – First lectures on the principles of aesthetics (April).

1873          Einige Ideen zur Schöpfungs- und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Organismen (Some Ideas on the Creation and Evolution of Organisms) with a confession to Darwin's theory of evolution.

1874          Journey to Rome with Hermann Härtel (Sept.) – Lectures Über die Grundbeziehungen des materiellen und geistigen Prinzips (On the basic correlations between the material and the mental principle) (Oct. 19^th).

1875          End of the lectures (March). - Death of his friend Hermann Härtel. - First meeting with Wilhelm Wundt.

1876          Vorschule der Aesthetik (Elementary Aesthetics) (2 vols.), Fechner's main work in the fields of experimental aesthetics. – Erinnerungen an die letzten Tage der Odlehre und ihres Urhebers - Some critical notes on the spiritistic theories of Carl Ludwig von Reichenbach.

1877          In Sachen der Psychophysik as a contribution to the international discussion of Fechner's writings on psychophysics. - Participation in a spiritual session of the American Henry Slade together with other natural scientists of Leipzig.

1878          Death of his friend Ernst Heinrich Weber. - Election as Corresponding Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences Vienna.

1879          Die Tagesansicht gegenüber der Nachtansicht (A Comparison of Day Vision and Night Vision) - Fechner's summarized writings concerning his philosophical and personal world views.

1882          Revision der Hauptpuncte der Psychophysik (Revision of the basic principles of psychophysics) - as an answer to the objections against his work and specification of his own views on the subject.

1884          Fairytale Das Wünschelmännchen (The Dwarf) (by Dr. Mises). – 50^th anniversary of his appointment as full professor. - Honorary citizen of Leipzig.

1887          Zur Kritik des Leipziger Mendebrunnens (Some Critical Notes on the Mende Fountain in Leipzig). - Über die psychischen Massprincipien und das Webersche Gesetz (On the Principles of Psychological Measurement and Weber’s Law) - last scientific work on psychophysics. - Visit of Wilhelm Ostwald (autumn).

Nov. 18^th     Death of Fechner.

Nov. 21^st     Burial at the Leipzig cemetery Neuer Johannisfriedhof.

Kollektivmasslehre (posthumous publication by the Royal Saxon Academy of Sciences Leipzig, being Fechner’s most important contribution to mathematical statistics).