Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1941, Page 275

EDWARD WESTERMARCK
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reality obscurity. In Kant, for instance, despite much brilliant
thinking, there was too much unfounded postulate and too much
of a moral law that on the whole lacked definite form.
The Origin of Human Marriage, Westermarck’s thesis for his
Doctor’s degree, laid the foundations of his scientific reputation.
The following year he was appointed Lecturer in the State Uni-
versity of Finland and for some time he also worked as Assistant
Librarian at the University Library. He was given, however,
frequent and long leaves of absence for research work abroad.
In 1906 Westermarck became Professor of Moral Philosophy
in the State University of Finland. When, in 1918, the newly
endowed Academy of Ábo opened, Westermarck became its first
Rector. At the same time he took over the chair of Philosophy,
which he continued to hold up to 1933. All this, however, was
so to speak only “the Northern” side of his activities. Since 1907
Westermarck has been connected with the University of Lon-
don, first as appointed teacher in sociology, then, from 1914
onwards, as Professor, a post he held until 1935. A curious
combination of posts, indeed, made possible only by an arrange-
ment under which Westermarck lectured in London during one
of the three terms only, the Easter term, which began in April
and lasted eight weeks. In Finland he lectured at least during the
autumn term. Even then, the man who could successfully carry
such a dual burden of teaching and at the same time prosecute
on research work of no common magnitude must have had an
extraordinary capacity for work. In addition, Westermarck acted
for many years as Curator and then Inspector of his Student
Corps. He was actively engaged in politics at various times —
Finnish intellectual life had often to provide support for the
political struggle!
During the period of Russian oppression in Finland in
Governor-General Bobrikov’s time, Westermarck placed his
name and influence at the disposal of his country.1) He played
an active part in England and elsewhere in Europe in bringing
about the so-called European Cultural Address, an appeal to the
Tsar in Finland’s interest from the European cultural world
*) cf. Westermarck, ‘Finland and the Czar,’ in The Contemporary Re-
view (London 1899), and in La Finlande (Paris 1897). After the war in
1914—18 Westermarck worked for the Aland question, cf. Westermarck,
in La Revue de Geneve (Genéve 1921), and in The Nation (London 1920),
and in The Contemp. Rev. (London 1921).
Le Nord, 1941, 4
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