Also Wolffian. [f. the name of the German philosopher Christian Wolff or Wolf (1679–1754) + -IAN.] a. adj. Pertaining to the philosophical system of Wolf, which was an eclectic adaptation of Leibnitzianism and scholasticism. b. sb. An adherent of this system. Hence Wolfianism, the philosophical system of Wolf; Wolfianize v. trans. to render Wolfian.
1791. Enfield, Brucker’s Hist. Philos., II. 572. Almost every German university was inflamed with disputes on the subject of liberty and necessity; and the names of Wolfians and Anti-Wolfians were every where heard.
1843. Eclectic Rev., Feb., 163. The influence of the Wolfian philosophy. Ibid., 164. It is undoubtedly to Wolfianism that we are to trace, in great measure, that coldness and lifelessness which characterizes the sermons of the latter part of the preceding century. Ibid., 165. The already Wolfianized mind of the rising ministry.
1874. G. S. Morris, trans. Ueberweg’s Hist. Philos., II. 116. Lange … sought … to demonstrate the Spinozistic and atheistic character of the Wolffian doctrine.
So Wolfio-Leibnitzian a., characterized by a combination of Wolfian and Leibnitzian views.
1877. E. Caird, Philos. Kant, I. 150. The artificial harmonies of the Wolffio-Leibnitzian philosophy.
