D. H. Th. Vollenhoven (1892-1978) was Dooyeweerd’s brother-in-law. He was a contemporary of Dooyeweerd at the Free University (1911-1914). He studied classics, philosophy and theology. His dissertation in Dutch was on the ‘Philosophy of mathematics from a theistic point of view’. He married Dooyeweerd’s sister and became a pastor in the Gereformeerde Kerk in Oostkappelle from 1918. In 1921 he became a pastor in The Hague and had many discussions with Dooyeweerd. Vollenhoven then went on to become professor of Philosophy at the Free University in Amsterdam. He developed an approach to the history of philosophy that became known as the Consistent Problem-Historical Method (CPHM).
Details of the Vollenhoven Foundation can be found here.
A bibliography of Vollenhoven’s archive can be found here
A Vollenhoven timeline is here
Finding Aid to the D.H.Th. Vollenhoven RHC Collection, ICS Toronto
An introduction to Vollenhoven:
Steve Bishop 2021 You should know D.H.Th. Vollenhoven. Laymen’s Lounge
By Vollenhoven in (in English)
1931-32
The significance of Calvinism for the reformation of philosophy. Evangelical Quarterly 3(4)1931): 387–403; 4(2)(1932): 128–160; 398–427.
Parts of these also appear in Het Calvinischme en de Reformatie van de Wijsbegeerte. Amsterdam: H.J.Paris, 1933.
1933
The groundmotives of biblical philosophy. From: Het Calvinischme en de Reformatie van de Wijsbegeerte. Amsterdam: H.J.Paris, 1933. Ch 2: 22-48 (in English).
1934
The foundations of Calvinist thought. Lecture delivered in 1934 at Dusseldorf
1948
The Course of Plato’s Development. In Library of the 10th International Congress of Philosophy, Vol. 2: Philosophical Essays. Amsterdam: Veen Vol. 2: 1-16.
1950
Faith: its Nature and Structure, and its Significance for Science. Toronto: Tomorrow’s Book Club .
1953
Divergentierapport I [Report of Divergences I], written in 1953. Available on Glenn Friesen’s site Vollenhoven studies
1958-59.
‘Lecture notes on Kant‘ from the syllabus 1958-59; translated by Bill Rowe (1977).
The History of Ancient Philosophy
A partial translation by H. Evan Runner of Vollenhoven’s Geshiedenis der wijsbegeerte I. Grand Rapids: Calvin College.
1963
De Problemen rondom de tijd [Problems about time], lectures given in 1963. Glenn Friesen’s site Vollenhoven studies
1966
Methodological dangers in the Parmenides interpretation. Philosophia Reformata 31:68-71.
1968
Problemen van de tijd in onze kring [Problems about time in our group], a lecture given in 1968. Glenn Friesen’s site Vollenhoven studies
At the beginning. The Christian Vanguard 8 (March and April), p. 3-5, 6-10.
Address delivered on the occasion of the adoption of the A.R.S.S. constitution, Aug. 28, 1961.
1979
Ancient philosophical conceptions in problem-historical lay-out, 6th century BC to 6th AD. (Edited with an introduction by A. Tol.) Amsterdam: Filosofisch Instituut, VU.
2005
The problem-historical method and the history of philosophy. (Edited by K.A. Bril. Transl. by De Kievit, J., Francke, S., Friesen, J.G. & Sweetman, R.) Amstelveen: De Zaak Haes.
Contains translations of the following:
- Conservatism and Progressiveness in philosophy
- Short Survey of the History of Philosophy
- The Consequential Problem-Historical Method
- Gnosticism
Isagôge philosophiae/ Introduction to philosophy. (Edited by Kok, J. & Tol, A. with the Dutch original.) Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
The problem-historical method and the history of philosophy. (Ed. K.A. Bril.) Amstelveen: De Zaak Haes.
Isagôgè philosophiae; introduction to philosophy. (Eds. J.H. Kok & A. Tol). Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
Isagôgè philosophiae; introduction to philosophy. (Bilingual edition). (Eds. J.H. Kok & J. Tol). Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
2013
Reformed Epistemology: the relation of logos and ratio in the history of Western epistemology. (Transl. by A. Tol.) Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press. The original Dutch version is available here.
Sphere sovereignty for Kuyper and for us. In Bishop, S. and Kok, J.H. (editors) On Kuyper: a collection of readings on the life, work and legacy of Abraham Kuyper. Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press. pp. 317-322
undated
The foundations of Calvinist thought. (Translated by J.J. Venter in English)
Scripture use and philosophy. (Translated by J.J. Venter from the Dutch version published in Mededelingen van de Vereniging voor Calvinistische Wijsbegeerte, Sept. 1953:6-9.)
Kok, J. H. (ed.) Forthcoming A Vollenhoven Reader. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
Provisional contents:
Foreword (by Calvin Seerveld)
1. Reforming Philosophy
Calvinism and the Reformation of Philosophy
2. Believing Faith
Faith: Its Nature, Structure, and Significance for Science
3. Social Spheres and Law Spheres
Sphere Sovereignty for Kuyper and for Us
4. Discerning Laws and Pitfalls
Norm and Law of Nature
5. Using and Abusing Scripture
Scripture Use and Philosophy
6. Differing with Dooyeweerd
Divergences: Report I
7. Traces of the Trinity
The Unity of Life
8. Introducing Philosophy
Introduction to Philosophy
Vollenhoven Foundation Newsletter
Vollenhoven foundation newsletter No 1
Vollenhoven foundation newsletter No 2
Vollenhoven foundation newsletter No 3
On Vollenhoven
Bishop, Steve 2023. “Why We Should Read Vollenhoven Today,” Ethics in Conversation 27 (5) (November) online: https://kirbylaingcentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EiC-Steve-Bishop-27.5-November-2023.pdf
Bishop, Steve 2021. You should know: Vollenhoven Layman’s Lounge.
Basden, A. 2005 (updated 2008) Comparison between Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven (webpages)
Bril, K.A., H. Hart, J. Klapwijk (eds.). 1973. Idea of a Christian Philosophy: Essays in Honour of D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. Wedge: Toronto.
Bril, K.A. 1973. A selected and annotated bibliography of D. H. Th. Vollenhoven. Philosophia Reformata 38: 212-222.
Bril, K.A. 1995. A comparison between Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven on the historiography of philosophy. Philosophia Reformata 60:2.
Bril, K.A. 2005. Vollenhoven’s problem-historical method: introduction and explorations. (Transl. by Vunderink, R.W.) Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
Doornbos, Gayle 2024 “D. H. Th. Vollenhoven” in T&T Clark Handbook of Neo-Calvinism, ed. N. G. Sutanto and C. Brock. (London: Bloomsbury), 235–248.
Friesen, J.G. 2005. Dooyeweerd Versus Vollenhoven: The Religious Dialectic Within Reformational Philosophy. Philosophia Reformata 70:102-132.
Friesen, J.G. 2005. Monism, dualism, nondualism: a problem with Vollenhoven’s problem-historical method.
Friesen, J. G. 2008. Studies relating to D.H.Th. Vollenhoven (webpages)
Friesen, J. Glenn 2023. A Critique of Jeremy Ive’s Interpretation of Herman Dooyeweerd
Griffioen, S. 2013. Treasure hunting in Vollenhoven. Paper delivered at the School of Philosophy, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University on 24 August 2013.
Ive, Jeremy 2023. “Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven: What They Share, How They Differ, and How They Complement One Another,” in Discovering Dooyeweerd ed. D.F.M. Strauss (Jordan Station, Ont: Paideia Press), 501–511.
Ive, J. 2015. The Contribution and Philosophical Development of the Reformational Philosopher, Dirk H. Th. Vollenhoven. Philosophia Reformata 80(2): 159–177
Kampof, E.J. The triunity of life: on the unity of the Vollenhovian project. ICS, Toronto MPhil.
Hart, Henk “Vollenhoven”,” in Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin J. McGrath (ed.) New Dictionary Of Christian Apologetics (Leicester: Inter Varisty Press, 2006).
Ive, J. 2012. A critically comparative Kuyperian analysis and in trinitarian perichoretic reconstruction of the reformational philosophies of Dirk H.T. Vollenhoven and Herman Dooyeweerd. Ph.D. thesis. London: King’s College.
The thesis explores whether Vollenhoven?s logic and epistemology might provide a fruitful perspective from which to view the unity of Vollenhoven’s systematic and historical work. But the thesis moves beyond Vollenhoven in taking a number of independent positions on the relationship between normative and structural law, between the law of the Spirit and positive law, and on the nature of the thus-so and the genetic determinations. (From Vollenhoven Newsletter No 2)
Kok, J.H. 1988. Vollenhoven and scriptural philosophy. Philosophia Reformata 53(2): 101-142.
Kok, J.H. 1992. Vollenhoven and thinking in the light of Scripture Pro Rege XXI:11-23. Available at: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/pro_rege/vol21/iss2/2
Kok, J.H. 1992. Vollenhoven: his early development. Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
H. Nijenhuis 2000. Speech at the presentation of the book: Vollenhoven’s Schematic Maps , to the Association for Reformational Philosophy, on 08-01-2000
Runner, H. Evan. 1972. Vollenhoven celebrates his eightieth birthday. Perspective Newsletter (Dec). 6:7-20.
Seerveld, C.G. 1960. Philosophical historography. JASA 12: 87-89.
Seerveld, C.G. 1973. Biblical wisdom underneath Vollenhoven’s categories for philosophical historiography. Philosophia Reformata 38:127-143.
Seerveld, C.G. 1975. The pedagogical strength of a Christian methodology in philosophical historiography. Koers 40:4-6.
Seerveld, C. 1980. Towards a cartographic methodology for art historiography. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 39:2.
Seerveld, C.G. 1993. Vollenhoven’s legacy for art historiography. Philosophia Reformata, 58:49-79.
Strauss, D.F.M. 2006. Appropriating the legacy of Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven. Journal for Christian Scholarship.42(4):23-56
Taljaard, J.A.L. 1978. In memoriam prof. D.H.Th Vollenhoven: 01/11/1892-06/06/1978. Perspectief, 17(3 & 4):1-4, Sept.
Tol, A. 1978. In memoriam: Dirk Hendrik Theodor Vollenhoven. Philosophia Reformata, 43:93-100.
Tol, A. 1979. “Foreword” in D.H.Th. Vollenhoven: Ancient philosophical conceptions in problem-historical lay-out, 6th Century B.C. – 6th Century A.D. Amsterdam: Filosofisch Instituut, Vrije Universiteit.
Tol, A. 1995. Time and change in Vollenhoven. Philosophia Reformata 60:99-120.
Tol, A. 2007. Vollenhoven on Early Classical Antiquity. In Sweetman, R. (ed.). In the Phrygian Mode; Neo-Calvinism. Antiquity and the lamentations of Reformational Philosophy. Toronto: ICS/ Lanham: Univ. Press of America, pp. 127-160.
Tol, A. 2010. Philosophy in the making; D.H.Th. Vollenhoven and the emergence of Reformed Philosophy. Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.
Philosophy in the Making D. H. Th. Vollenhoven and the Emergence of Reformed Philosophy
Anthony Tol Dordt College Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-932914-86-6 549+vi pp; pbk; US$30
Recent years have seen a number of works by and on Vollenhoven. This by Tony Tol is the result of his PhD promoted by A. P. Bos from the Free University (VU). It looks at the development of a neo-calvinist philosophy. Tol pays particular attention to the part played by Vollenhoven in this development. The book started life as a project to edit Vollenhoven’s seminal work the Isagoge Philosophiae a text Vollenhoven was continually changing and revising; there about a dozen different versions of the text! This book then traces Vollenhoven’s thought as it changed and evolved. This is a welcome addition to the burgeoning interest in reformational philosophy. Vollenhoven’s work is often dense and opaque. Tol has done much of the hard work in helping us understand Vollenhoven and his ideas better.
Tol, A. 2011. Reformational philosophy in the making. Philosophia Reformata, 76:187-214.
Tol, A. 2011. Vollenhoven and Dooyeweerd: their emerging difference. Unpublished paper delivered at the International Symposium of the Association for Christian Philosophy, Amsterdam, 16-19 August 2011.
Tol, A. 2011. Vollenhoven on philosophy, worldview and religion. Unpublished paper delivered at the International Symposium of the Association for Christian Philosophy, Amsterdam, 16-19 August 2011.
Tol, A. 2013. Vollenhoven, Dirk Hendrik Theodoor. Wikipedia http://en/Wikipedia.org/wiki/D.H.Th.Vollenhoven
van der Walt. B.J. 1978. Historiography of philosophy: the consistent problem-historic method. In Heartbeat. Potchefstroom: IRS.
van der Walt, B.J. 1982-83. The consistent problem-historical method of philosophical historiography. Anakainosis, 5 (2 and 3): 1-21.
van der Walt, B.J. 2006. The philosophy of D. H. Th. Vollenhoven (1892-1978), with special reference to his historiography of philosophy. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 42(1-2): 35-39
van der Walt, B.J. 2011. Employing Vollenhoven’s historiographic “minesweeper” in detecting and detonating dangerous “landmines” at the theological “minefields” of Dordt (1618-1619) and afterwards. Paper delivered at the Vollenhoven Colloquium on 15 August 2011 at the Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
van der Walt, B.J. 2012. Flying on the wings of Vollenhoven’s radical Christian worldview: A reconsideration of the usual typology of Christian worldviews. Koers 77(1)
van der Walt, B.J. 2014. At the Cradle of a Christian Philosophy. Potchefstroom: ICCA.
van der walt, B.J. 2014. Constancy and Change: Historical Types and Trends in the Passion of the Western Mind. Potchefstroom: ICCA.
Wolters, A.M. 1979. On Vollenhoven’s problem-historical method. In Kraay, J. & Tol, A. (eds.). Hearing and Doing: Philosophical essays dedicated to H.Evan Runner. Toronto: Wedge Pub. Foundation. pp. 231-262.
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