Jan Ligthart (11 January 1859 - 16 February 1916) was a Dutch teacher and philosopher.

Jan Ligthart was born on 11 January 1859 in Amsterdam, in the Jordaan district.

His father Cornelis Ligthart, was a carpenter and grocer, who suffered from epileptic seizures.

His mother Anna van Spall, daughter of a pastor, came from Klundert.

Ligthart graduated from the Reformed Christian college of Bloemgracht.