Gunnar Alksnis

Gunnar Alksnis (Latvian: Gunārs Alksnis , born July 1, 1931 in Riga ; † May 15, 2011 in Woodland , California ) was a Latvian- American historian and theologian who taught history as a professor at Washburn University until his retirement in 2000 in the United States as an expert on Ludwig Klages and August Zillmer .

Life

Gunārs Alksnis immigrated to the United States of America with his parents Jānis Edvards (John Edward) and Elza Alksnis in 1949, and he accepted their citizenship. In 1955 he earned the academic title of Bachelor of Theology . A year later he was ordained a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Russell County, Kansas . Gunnar Alksnis married Pauline Elizabeth Krug (1933-2014) in 1957, with whom he had the son John Albert and the daughter Maria.

In 1965 Gunnar Alksnis received the degree of Masters of Sacred Theology . In 1970 he received his doctorate in philosophy from Kansas State University . His dissertation examined Ludwig Klages' criticism of rationalism, which is based on a fundamental opposition between soul and spirit. Alksnis was appointed professor of history at Washburn University in Topeka , where he taught for over 30 years. After his retirement he moved with his wife to Woodland , California , where he led an active life as a lecturer and author until his death. He was also involved in Woodland for the Lutheran Church.

Act

Gunnar Alksnis dealt with a wide range of historical topics. He dealt with Martin Luther and the Reformation as well as with the history of actuarial mathematics . In this area he was particularly concerned with the Zillmer method developed by August Zillmer in 1863 for calculating the economic value of the obligation that an insurer has from a life insurance contract . Alksins also translated Zillmer's texts into English.

The preoccupation with the philosophy of Ludwig Klages accompanied Alksnis for decades. In 2015 his study Chthonic Gnosis was published posthumously . Ludwig Klages and his Quest for the Pandaemonic All . Alksnis believed that the best way to convey history was through the medium of biography. He assumed that an era could be most clearly understood if one analyzes the lives of its outstanding protagonists and leading spirits in philosophy, politics and society.

Honors

At Washburn University the scholarship “Prof. Gunnar Alksnis History Scholarship ”. It is awarded to students who show an outstanding interest in historical research.

Works

• Ludwig Klages and His Attack on Rationalism . Kansas State University, 1970
• Controversies Surrounding Zillmer Reserves. (with William Roach). Actuarial Research Clearing House . 1991 Vol. 1.
• August Zillmer, an actuary with less reserve. The Actuary . March 1989 - Volume 23, No. 3
• Chthonic Gnosis. Ludwig Klages and his Quest for the Pandaemonic All . Introduction by Paul Bishop . Appendix by Volker Zotz . Theion Publishing 2015

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Life dates and career according to the Daily Democrat : Gunnar Alksnis. Obituary.
2. ^ Gunnar Alksnis: Ludwig Klages and His Attack on Rationalism . Kansas State University, 1970
3. ↑ Archie J. BAHM: Directory of American Philosophers. Vol. 8. Philosophy Documentation Center, Bowling Green State University, 1976, p. 47
4. ^ Gunnar Alksnis and William Roach: August Zillmer, an actuary with less reserve. The Actuary . March 1989 - Volume 23, No. 3
5. ↑ Theion Publishing: Update on New Authors & Releases ( Memento of the original dated May 12, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , January 31, 2015: Chthonic Gnosis. Ludwig Klages and his Quest for the Pandaemonic All by Dr. Gunnar Alksnis 
6. ↑ The Ichabod . Washburn University, December 2011, p. 25th
7. ^ Washburn University: Scholarships & Awards