Theodor Lipps

Theodor Lipps (1851-1914) was a German philosopher. One of the most influential German university professors of his time, having attracted many students from other countries. Lipps was very concerned with conceptions of art & the aesthetic, focusing much of his philosophy around such issues. Among his fervent admirers was Freud, Lipps then being the main supporter of subconscious. He thought each state to have its level of consciousness and laughter being associated with hidden negative aspects (also present with Thomas Hobbes or Henri Bergson). Central to his philosophy, he adopted Robert Vischer notions of empathy or esthetic sympathy (Einfühlung).

Late in life, he adopted some ideas from Husserl. Disliking his psychologism, some of his students actually joined with some of Husserl's to form a new branch called Phenomenology of essences.