Friedrich Max Müller (German: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈmaks ˈmʏlɐ]; 6 December 1823 – 28 October 1900) was a German-born philologist, mythologist, and orientalist who specialized in Sanskrit and comparative philology. He was one of the founders of the Western academic disciplines of Indology and religious studies.
Early life and education
Müller was born in Dessau, Anhalt, Germany, on December 6, 1823. His father, Wilhelm Müller, was a poet and professor of modern languages at the University of Dessau. Müller's mother, Adelaide Louise (née Fucke), was the daughter of a clergyman.
Müller received his early education at the Dessau Gymnasium, where he excelled in languages. In 1841, he went to the University of Leipzig to study theology and Oriental languages. He then transferred to the University of Berlin, where he was influenced by the philosopher Karl Friedrich Schelling and the Sanskrit scholar Franz Bopp.
In 1844, Müller moved to Paris to study with the Sanskrit scholar Eugène Burnouf. He then spent two years in England, where he worked as a private tutor and began to translate Sanskrit texts into English.
Career
In 1846, Müller was appointed to the newly created chair of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford. He held this position for 50 years, until his retirement in 1895.
During his time at Oxford, Müller made significant contributions to the fields of philology, mythology, and religious studies. He was a prolific writer and translator, and his works were widely read and influential.
Müller's most famous work is The Science of Language (1861), in which he argued that all languages are related and that they can be traced back to a common ancestor. This work helped to lay the foundation for the modern study of linguistics.
Müller was also a leading figure in the study of comparative mythology. He believed that myths are not mere stories, but that they reflect the deepest beliefs and values of a culture. He wrote extensively on the mythology of India, Greece, and other cultures.
In addition to his work on philology and mythology, Müller was also interested in the study of religion. He believed that all religions share a common core of truth, and he advocated for a tolerant and inclusive approach to religious studies.
Müller was a popular lecturer and writer, and he played a key role in introducing the study of India and its culture to the West. He was also a respected scholar and teacher, and he had a profound influence on generations of students.
Death and legacy
Müller died in Oxford on October 28, 1900. He was 76 years old.
Müller is considered one of the most important figures in the development of the academic disciplines of Indology, philology, and religious studies. His work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of language, myth, and religion.
Here are some of Müller's most important contributions:
- He helped to establish the field of comparative philology and demonstrated that all Indo-European languages are related.
- He translated and edited many important Sanskrit texts, making them accessible to Western scholars.
- He developed a theory of mythology that explained myths as symbolic representations of natural phenomena and moral values.
- He argued for a tolerant and inclusive approach to religious studies, emphasizing the common core of truth that underlies all religions.
Müller's work was groundbreaking and influential, and it continues to be studied and debated today. He was a brilliant scholar and a gifted communicator, and his work has had a profound impact on our understanding of language, myth, and religion.
