The Resume

(August 16, 1832-August 31, 1920)
Born in Neckarau, Germany
Philosopher, physician, and psychologist
Professor of Psychology at the University of Leipzig (1873-1917)
Founded the first laboratory for psychological research at Leipzig (1879)
Founded the first journal for psychological research, 'Philosophische Studien' (1883)
Wrote 'Principles of Physiological Psychology' (1874), 'Ethics' (1886), 'System of Philosophy' (1889), and 'Outline of Psychology' (1896)
Described the Wundt illusion, an optical illusion in which straight lines appear curved when viewed against a background of radiating lines

Why he might be annoying:

His first scientific publication was 'On the Sodium Chloride Content of Urine.' (1853)
The University of Leipzig did not recognize his psychology lab as part of the campus until 1883.
He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology three times without winning.
He was one numerous German intellectuals who signed a manifesto justifying World War I on the basis of German cultural superiority.

Why he might not be annoying:

He personally trained 186 graduate students and was described as always accessible to them.
He was the first person to call himself a psychologist.
He was primarily responsible for changing psychology from a branch of philosophy to a science.
In a 1991 survey by 'American Psychologist,' he ranked first among psychologists in 'all-time eminence,' with William James and Sigmund Freud a distant second and third.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Scientists
• 20th Century Scientists
• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 635)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 92]
• I Attended Heidelberg University
• I Died in 1920 (Ranked: 88)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Philosophers: 19th Century [1800-1900]
• Philosophers: 20th Century [1900-2000]
• Profiles 57251-57500 (Ranked: 57345)
• Psychologists
• Scientists

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying