S. U. Zuidema
Encyclopedia
Syste Ulbe Zuidema was one of the second generation of reformational philosophers
arising from the Free University of Amsterdam, after the first generation of Herman Dooyeweerd
and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven
. Other second generationers were: Hendrik Van Riessen
, K. J. Popma
and J. P. A. Mekkes
.
Prior to teaching philosophy at the Free University, Zuidema held a chair of Calvinistic philosophy at the University of Utrecht. He had also been a minister in the Reformed Churches and a missionary in Indonesia. His doctoral dissertation was on William of Ockham.
Robert Knudsen and Hendrik Hart
both completed their doctoral
dissertations in philosophy
under Zuidema.
Reformational philosophy
Reformational philosophy is a Neo-Calvinistic movement pioneered by Herman Dooyeweerd and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven that seeks to develop philosophical thought in a radically Protestant Christian direction.- Historical overview :...
arising from the Free University of Amsterdam, after the first generation of Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd was a Dutch juridical scholar by training, who by vocation was a philosopher and the founder of the philosophy of the cosmonomic idea. He received early support for his work from his brother-in-law D. H. Th. Vollenhoven...
and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven
D. H. Th. Vollenhoven
Dirk Hendrik Theodoor Vollenhoven was with Herman Dooyeweerd the first generation of reformational philosophers, an intellectual movement with which Vollenhoven worked communally from his election in 1936 as President of the newly-organized group formed to advance the movement; the organization is...
. Other second generationers were: Hendrik Van Riessen
Hendrik Van Riessen
Hendrik Van Riessen was one of the second generation of reformational philosophers arising from the Free University in Amsterdam, after the first generation of Herman Dooyeweerd and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. Other second generationers were: K. J. Popma, S. U. Zuidema and J. P. A...
, K. J. Popma
K. J. Popma
Klaas Jan Popma was one of the second generation of reformational philosophers arising from the Free University in Amsterdam, after the first generation of Herman Dooyeweerd and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. Other second generationers were: Hendrik Van Riessen, S. U. Zuidema and J. P. A...
and J. P. A. Mekkes
J. P. A. Mekkes
J. P. A. Mekkes was one of the second generation of reformational philosophers arising from the Free University in Amsterdam, after the first generation of Herman Dooyeweerd and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. Other second generationers were: Hendrik Van Riessen, S. U. Zuidema and K. J...
.
Prior to teaching philosophy at the Free University, Zuidema held a chair of Calvinistic philosophy at the University of Utrecht. He had also been a minister in the Reformed Churches and a missionary in Indonesia. His doctoral dissertation was on William of Ockham.
Robert Knudsen and Hendrik Hart
Hendrik Hart
Hendrik Hart taught systematic philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto since its founding in 1967 until his retirement in 2001. Prior to that he was head of the philosophical Institute of the Free University in Amsterdam, where he studied under D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. His...
both completed their doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
dissertations in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
under Zuidema.
Timeline
- 1925-1930 Studied at the Free University of Amsterdam
- 1931-1934 Pastor in Gereformeerde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) in Anna Paulowna Polder
- 1935-1945 MissionaryMissionaryA missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for the Mission in Central Java, IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(Dutch East indies) - 1936 Received doctorate from the Free University
- Dissertation: The nominalisticNominalismNominalism is a metaphysical view in philosophy according to which general or abstract terms and predicates exist, while universals or abstract objects, which are sometimes thought to correspond to these terms, do not exist. Thus, there are at least two main versions of nominalism...
philosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of William of OckhamWilliam of OckhamWilliam of Ockham was an English Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, who is believed to have been born in Ockham, a small village in Surrey. He is considered to be one of the major figures of medieval thought and was at the centre of the major intellectual and political controversies of... - 1936-1946 Missionry minister at Soerakarta (Solo). During WWII he was held at a Japanese prisoner of war camp on Java.
- 1946 returned to Holland
- 1948 Chair of Christian PhilosophyChristian philosophyChristian philosophy may refer to any development in philosophy that is characterised by coming from a Christian tradition.- Origins of Christian philosophy :...
at University of Utrecht and at the Free University - 1954 onwards taught only at the Free University.
Publications
- Kierkegaard in Modern Thinkers, an International Library of Philosophy and theology (Presbyterian & Reformed: Philadelphia) http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://kuyper.org/news/lanfear/lanfear2.html
- Sartre in Modern Thinkers, an International Library of Philosophy and theology (Presbyterian & Reformed: Philadelphia) http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://kuyper.org/news/lanfear/lanfear2.html
- Communication and Confrontation: A Philosophical Appraisal and Critique of Modern Society and Contemporary Thought. Assen/Kampen Royal VanGorcum Ltd, 1972