MORITZ A. GEIGER
1880 - 1937
The sudden and untimely death of Professor Moritz
A. Geiger on September 9, 1937 has taken from the
Vassar comunity one who for many years had been a
distinguished figure in the world of Philosophy,
and who, during his three years at Vassar College,
won for himself a place of leadership in the intel-
lectual life, and of admiration and affection among
members of the faculty and students alike.
Professor Geiger was born June 26, 1880 in Frankfurt-
on-Main. He received the Ph.D. degree at the Univer-
sity of Munich where he later began his teaching. In
1923 he was appointed to the Chair of Philosophy at
the University of Gbttingen where he remained until
1933, when he was called to Vassar College to assume
the James Monroe Taylor chair of Philosophy and the
chairmanship of the department. While Professor
Geiger attained distinction in several highly special-
ized fields of Philosophy, the most characteristic
aspect of his work was the wide scope of his interests
and the high degree of familiarity he showed in all
branches of Philosophy. He himself believed his con-
tribution to the field of Aesthetics the one of most
importance, but those who knew him best knew that he
cherishd the hope of working out a still more com-
plete philosophy of Mathematics than has appeared
heretofore. Already in his book on the science of
Mathematics he had attained results which prompted
Hilbert, the great German mathematician, to say that
Professor Geiger was the first philosopher since
Leibnitz to contribute importantly to the science of
Mathematics.
In this college Professor Geiger's contributions were
made quietly, gracefully and forcefully, always with
a breadth of vision and a sense of proportion. In
the class-room his lectures were both artistic and
scholarly, displaying as did his private conversations
a vast erudition, discipline and integrity of mind
that were a constant stimulation to those who came in
contact with him. In his human relations he showed a
kindliness, wisdom and sparkle that won for him an
MORITZ A. GEIGER (Continued)
enduring place in the affections and respect of his
fellows. He was a philosopher, in life as in study.
His philosophy of life is epitomized in one of his
letters when he wrote, "Philosophy is not worth-
while if it does not strengthen the ability of think-
ing and of self-control.”
Margaret Rawlings Dey
Vernon Venable
C. Mildred Thdmpson
IX - 407