Portrait of Wilhelm Dilthey

Wilhelm Dilthey books in order

German historian, psychologist, sociologist, student of hermeneutics, and philosopher

Lived
1833–1911
Country
Germany
Books
2

Wilhelm Dilthey published 2 non-fiction books. The best-known is The Essence of Philosophy.

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Wilhelm Dilthey

Non-fiction in order

  1. The Essence of Philosophy (1954)

    78 pages

  2. Meaning in History (1961)

    170 pages

About Wilhelm Dilthey

Wilhelm Dilthey was a German philosopher who held Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's Chair in Philosophy at the University of Berlin. As a polymathic philosopher working in the emerging modern research university, Dilthey aimed to establish the methodological foundations of the human sciences, including history, hermeneutics, and nascent psychology, in relation to the natural sciences.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Wilhelm Dilthey FAQ

How many books has Wilhelm Dilthey written?
Wilhelm Dilthey published 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Wilhelm Dilthey's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Essence of Philosophy.
What is Wilhelm Dilthey's most famous book?
The Essence of Philosophy is Wilhelm Dilthey's most widely read book.

Authors like Wilhelm Dilthey

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.