[Eckermann, Johann Peter], a German writer, born at Winsen, in Hanover; friend of Goethe, and editor of his works; the author of "Conversations with Goethe in the Last Years of his Life, 1823-32," a record of wise reflections and of Goethe's opinions on all subjects, of the utmost interest to all students of the German sage (1792-1854).
[Eckhart, Meister], a German philosopher and divine, profoundly speculative and mystical; entered the Dominican Order, and rapidly attained to a high position in the Church; arraigned for heresy in 1325, and was acquitted, but two years after his death his writings were condemned as heretical by a papal bull; died in 1327.
[Eckmühl], a village in Bavaria where Napoleon defeated the Austrians in 1809, and which gave the title of Duke to [Davout] (q. v.), one of Napoleon's generals.
[Eclectics], so-called philosophers who attach themselves to no system, but select what, in their judgment, is true out of others. In antiquity the Eclectic philosophy is that which sought to unite into a coherent whole the doctrines of Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle, such as that of Plotinus and Proclus was. There is an eclecticism in art as well as philosophy, and the term is applied to an Italian school which aimed at uniting the excellencies of individual great masters.
[Ecliptic], the name given to the circular path in the heavens round which the sun appears to move in the course of the year, an illusion caused by the earth's annual circuit round the sun, with its axis inclined at an angle to the equator of 23½ degrees; is the central line of the [Zodiac] (q. v.), so called because it was observed that eclipses occurred only when the earth was on or close upon this path.
[Economy], "the right arrangement of things," and distinct from Frugality, which is "the careful and fitting use of things."
[Ecorcheurs] (lit. flayers properly of dead bodies), armed bands who desolated France in the reign of Charles VII., stripping their victims of everything, often to their very clothes.
[Ecstatic Doctor], Jean Ruysbroek, a schoolman given to mysticism (1294-1381).
[Ecuador] (1,271), a republic of S. America, of Spanish origin, created in 1822; derives its name from its position on the equator; lies between Columbia and Peru; is traversed by the Andes, several of the peaks of which are actively volcanic; the population consists of Peruvian Indians, negroes, Spanish Creoles; exports cocoa, coffee, hides, and medicinal plants; the administration is vested in a president, a vice-president, two ministers, a senate of 18, and a house of deputies of 30, elected by universal suffrage.
[Ecumenical Council], an ecclesiastical council representative, or accepted as representative, of the Church universal or Catholic. See [Councils].