PHILOSOPHERS from Estonia

Top 4

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Estonian Philosophers of all time. This list of famous Estonian Philosophers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Adolf von Harnack (1851 - 1930)

With an HPI of 61.19, Adolf von Harnack is the most famous Estonian Philosopher.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages on wikipedia.

Carl Gustav Adolf von Harnack (born Harnack; 7 May 1851 – 10 June 1930) was a Baltic German Lutheran theologian and prominent Church historian. He produced many religious publications from 1873 to 1912 (in which he is sometimes credited as Adolf Harnack). He was ennobled (with the addition of von to his name) in 1914. Harnack traced the influence of Hellenistic philosophy on early Christian writings and called on Christians to question the authenticity of doctrines that arose in the early Christian church. He rejected the historicity of the Gospel of John in favor of the Synoptic Gospels, criticized the Apostles' Creed, and promoted the Social Gospel. In the 19th century, higher criticism flourished in Germany, establishing the historical-critical method as an academic standard for interpreting the Bible and understanding the historical Jesus (see Tübingen school). Harnack's work is part of a reaction to Tübingen, and represents a reappraisal of tradition. Besides his theological activities, Harnack was a distinguished organizer of sciences. He played an important role in the foundation of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft and became its first president.

2. Hermann von Keyserling (1880 - 1946)

With an HPI of 55.32, Hermann von Keyserling is the 2nd most famous Estonian Philosopher.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Hermann Alexander Graf von Keyserling (20 July [O.S. 8] 1880 – 26 April 1946) was a Baltic German philosopher from the Keyserlingk family. His grandfather, Alexander von Keyserling, was a notable geologist of Imperial Russia.

3. Uku Masing (1909 - 1985)

With an HPI of 47.28, Uku Masing is the 3rd most famous Estonian Philosopher.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Uku Masing (born Hugo Albert Masing, 11 August 1909 – 25 April 1985) was an Estonian polymath who contributed to theology, oriental studies, philosophy, poetry, folklore and to the field of ethnology. He was a significant figure in Estonian religious philosophy. Masing also wrote poetry, mostly on religious issues. Masing authored one novel, Rapanui vabastamine ehk Kajakad jumalate kalmistul (Liberation of Rapa Nui, or Seagulls at the Cemetery of Gods) in the late 1930s, which was published posthumously in 1989. As a folklorist, he was a distinguished researcher of fairy tales, contributing to the international Encyclopedia of the Folktale. He was awarded the Righteous Among The Nations by Yad Vashem and the Israeli Supreme Court for his participation during the Holocaust in helping a Jew in Estonia escape capture from 1941 until the end of the war. His actions exposed him to great danger during this period requiring him to meet with his friend as well as lying to the Gestapo.

4. Hendrik Adamson (1891 - 1946)

With an HPI of 45.97, Hendrik Adamson is the 4th most famous Estonian Philosopher.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Hendrik Adamson (6 October [O.S. 24 September] 1891 – 7 March 1946) was an Estonian poet and teacher. He was born as a son of a tailor in Patsi farmstead in the village of Metsakuru, Kärstna Parish (now in the village of Veisjärve, Viljandi Parish), Viljandi County. He started working as a teacher at the Torma Võtikvere Ministry of Education in 1911. During this time, he published several short stories (in prose) and poems in newspapers. This works attracted the attention of Friedebert Tuglas, a literary critic. From 1919 to 1927 he was the head of the primary school in Kärstna. Subsequently, he became a professional writer and a member of the Estonian Writers' Union. Adamson also wrote in Esperanto. All of his Estonian works have been translated into Esperanto. Notable poems include "Mulgimaa" (Tartu, 1919), "Inimen" (Tartu, 1925), "Tõus ja mõõn" (Tartu, 1931), "Kolletuspäev" (Tartu, 1934), "Mälestuste maja" (Tartu, 1936) and "Linnulaul" (Tartu, 1937). He also published the novels "Kuldblond neitsi" and "Roheline sisalik" (Tartu, 1925).