Front Page Authors (by Period) Wilhelm von Humboldt

Wilhelm von Humboldt

1767 - 1835

About the Author

Described by Hayek as Germany’s greatest philosopher of freedom” Humboldt wrote a path-breaking defense of the minimal state which had a profound influence on John Stuart Mill. Humboldt later became Director of the Section for Public Worship and Education, in the Ministry of Interior. In this capacity, he directed the reorganization of the Prussian public education system, and, in particular, founded the University of Berlin.

In The Library:

• author: The Sphere and Duties of Government (The Limits of State Action) (1854 ed.) (1792)