Reidar Thomte
Reidar Thomte (b. 1902 – d. 1994)
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Philosophy Professor 1948-1973
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Philosophy Department Chair 1948-1957
Biography
Originally from Oslo, Norway, Reidar Thomte immigrated to the United States in 1920 at the age of 18. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1926 and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in theology from Hartwick Seminary in 1936. Thomte continued his education at New York’s Biblical Seminary and Luther Theological Seminary and earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. from New York University in 1939 and 1945 respectively.
A noted authority on Soren Kierkegaard, he wrote, edited, and reviewed several pieces on the Danish philosopher and authored a book titled Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Religion. He received the Swenson-Kierkegaard Fellowship in 1949 and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in 1954. Thomte is the third recipient of the Alma and Reuel Wije Distinguished Professorship, elected by the faculty in 1967. An article in the June 1961 Perspectives characterized Thomte as having “devoted great energy to making philosophy a vital part of the curriculum, that every student should be confronted with the ultimate issues of life and the possible answers through reason and faith.”