Ideas on the philosophy of human history

Ideas on the philosophy of the history of mankind is a historical-philosophical treatise by Johann Gottfried Herder , which was published in four parts by Johann Friedrich Hartknoch between 1784 and 1791 . Herder, who, along with Goethe, Schiller and Wieland, is one of the “four stars” of the Weimar Classic , summarized in the treatise his knowledge of the earth and man, “whose sole purpose is to educate humanity, which meets all the low needs of the earth should only serve and lead to her ".

History of editions and origins

In the foreword of the ideas , Herder describes the treatise Also a Philosophy of History for the Education of Humanity , published in 1774, as a contribution to contributions . The new work, on which he worked for nine years, was planned as a more extensive, more comprehensive and more detailed treatise of his historical-philosophical thoughts. Herder drafted the plan for his “Philosophy of History” in October 1782. He began to write it down in the spring of 1783. The first part, the natural-philosophical foundation for the historical-philosophical considerations, appeared in the spring of 1784. The other parts followed in April 1785 and 1787 and finally in the fall of 1791. Herder had planned another sequel. However, there are only a few notes on this in the estate. Today the treatise is generally considered to be Herder's main work.

content

The work is divided into four parts, including twenty books, divided into chapters marked with Roman numerals. It covers a variety of thematic areas, including religion , history , politics , language , literature, and education .

First part

first book

Based on the state of knowledge at that time, Herder describes the position of our “dwelling place”, the earth , in space and its nature, from which conclusions could be drawn for humanity, because Herder assumes a divine creation .

I. Our earth is a star among stars

The earth is not dependent on itself, but on other forces in the universe. Herder cites the sun as an example , to which the earth is apparently bound with “invisible, eternal bonds” and from which it receives “light, warmth, life and prosperity”. The conditions on earth are ideal for humans, so Herder is faced with the question of the meaning of life ("[...] what I should be in this place and what I can probably only be on it"). In the interaction of the heavenly forces, the author recognizes the harmony of God.

II. Our earth is one of the middle planets

The author calls the earth the "middle planet" because it occupies a middle position between the lower planets Mercury and Venus and the upper planets Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. This “ambiguous golden lot of mediocrity” ensures balanced conditions on earth. This balance is also shown in the length of the day and the year, which on other planets are either much shorter or much longer. Herder complains that he can only explore the other planets mathematically and not physically, i.e. by traveling .

III. Our earth went through many revolutions until it became what it is now

At the beginning of the formation of the earth, the author sees powerful natural forces at work. The development of life happened in the following sequence: at the beginning the four elements , i.e. air, water, fire and earth, as the second the "plant organization", as the third "insects, birds, aquatic and nocturnal animals", as the fourth the " educated animals ”and finally man as the“ flower of creation on earth ”. Since the earth is now old and developed, natural upheavals have become rarer. Unlike Voltaire , Herder does not judge the elements critically, but as necessary for the formation of our earth.

IV. Our earth is a ball that moves around itself and towards the sun in an oblique direction

The seasons caused by the misalignment are decisive for our lives. Herder recognizes God's plan behind the seasons.

V. Our earth is enveloped in a circle of haze and is in conflict with several heavenly stars

Herder sees the "mother of all creatures" in the air of our atmosphere. Furthermore, our atmosphere is in interplay with other celestial bodies; Herder cites ebb and flow as an example .

VI. The planet we inhabit is a mountain range that protrudes above the surface of the water

Herder regards the mountain formations as the original earth, when rivers and seas did not yet exist. The oldest remnants of nations and languages are particularly common on mountains. From Herder's point of view, the harsh older peoples withdrew to the mountains before the later foreign peoples.

VII. Through the stretches of the mountains, our two hemisphere became a scene of the strangest diversity and variety

The author looks at the mountains of the individual continents, their influence on the climate and thus on people.

In Asia , the mountains extend both "in the greatest latitude of the country" and "in the greatest length", which probably means the Himalayas and the Urals . The Himalayas protect Central Asia from the cold north winds. In Africa the mountain ranges are still too unexplored to be able to make precise statements. Herder assumes that Africa is also cut in length and width by mountains. In northern America , the cold winds from the “ice area” only become milder under the “Blue Mountains” . In South America, however, the winds come from the ice of the South Pole . Given the size of the Andes and the "great level of the Amazon River ", Herder comes to the statement: "The giant and the dwarf are standing here next to each other, [...]."

second book

I. Our earth is a great workshop for the organization of very diverse beings
II. The plant kingdom of our earth in relation to human history
III. The realm of the animals in relation to human history
IV. Man is a middle creature among the animals of the earth

Third book

I. Comparison of the structure of plants and animals with regard to the organization of man
II. Comparison of the various organic forces that work in animals
III. Examples of the physiological structure of some animals
IV. From the instincts of animals
V. Further training of creatures to combine several concepts and to use their senses and limbs more freely
VI. Organic difference between animals and humans

Fourth book

I. Man is organized to the
faculty of reason II. Consideration from the organization of the human head to the lower creatures that are approaching its formation
III. The human being is organized for fine senses, for art and language
IV. The human being is organized for fine instincts, consequently for freedom
V. The human being is organized for the most delicate health, but at the same time for the strongest duration, therefore for spreading over the earth
VI. Man is educated for humanity and religion
VIII. Man is educated for the hope of immortality

Fifth book

I. In the creation of our earth there is a series of ascending forms and forces
II. No force of nature is without an organ; but the organ is never the force itself, which works through that
III. All connection between forces and forms is neither decline nor standstill, but progression
IV. The realm of human organization is a system of spiritual forces
V. Our humanity is only a preliminary exercise, the bud for a future flower
VI. The current state of people is probably the connecting link between two worlds

Second part

Sixth book

I. Organization of the peoples near the North Pole
II. Organization of the peoples around the Asian ridge of the earth
III. Organization of the soil of beautifully formed peoples
IV. Organization of the African peoples
V. Organization of the people in the islands of the hot soil
VI. Organization of the Americans
VII. Conclusion

Seventh book

I. The human race appears on earth in such different forms, it is nevertheless one and the same human species everywhere
II. The one human race has air-conditioned itself everywhere on earth
III. What is climate and what effect does it have on human education in body and soul?
IV. The genetic force is the mother of all formations on earth, to which the climate only acts hostile or friendly.
V. Concluding remarks on the dispute between Genesis and the climate

Eighth book

I. The sensuality of our sex changes with formations and climates; but everywhere a human use of the senses is that which leads to humanity
II. The imagination of men is everywhere organic and climatic; but everywhere it is guided by tradition
III. The practical understanding of the human race has grown up everywhere under the needs of the way of life; but everywhere he is a flower of the genius of the peoples, a son of tradition and custom
IV. The feelings and impulses of men are everywhere according to the condition in which they live and their organization; but everywhere they are ruled by opinions and custom
V. The happiness of people is everywhere an individual good, consequently everywhere climatic and organic, a child of practice, tradition and habit

Ninth book

I. As much as man likes to think he can produce everything from himself, so much does he depend on others in the development of his abilities
II. The peculiar means of human education is language
III. All sciences and arts of the human race were invented through imitation, reason and language
. IV. Governments are established orders among men, mostly from inherited tradition
. V. Religion is the oldest and most sacred tradition on earth

Tenth book

I. Our earth is a self-formed earth for its living creation
II. Where was the place of education and the oldest residence of the people?
III. The course of culture and history gives historical evidence that the human race originated in Asia
IV. Asian traditions on the creation of the earth and the origin of the human race
V. Oldest written tradition on the origin of human history
VI. Continuation of the oldest written tradition about the beginning of human history
VII. End of the oldest written tradition about the beginning of human history

third part

Eleventh book

I. China
II. Kochin China , Tongking, Laos, Korea, Eastern Tatarstan, Japan
III. Tibet
IV. Indostan
V. General considerations on the history of these states

Twelfth book

I. Babylon, Assyria, Chaldea
II. Medes and Persians
III. Hebrews
IV. Phenicia and Carthage
V. Egypt
VI. More ideas on the philosophy of human history

Thirteenth book

I. Greece's location and population
II. Greece's language, mythology and poetry
III. Arts of the Greeks
IV. Moral and State Wisdom of the Greeks
V. Scientific Exercises of the Greeks
VI. History of Changes in Greece
VII. General Considerations on the History of Greece

Fourteenth book

I. Etruscans and Latins
II. Rome's facilities for a ruling state and war building
III. Conquests of the Romans
IV. The Decline of Rome
V. Character, Sciences and Arts of the Romans
VI. General reflections on the fate of Rome and its history

Fifteenth book

I. humanity is the purpose of human nature, and God has our race given with this, his own fate in the hands
II. All destructive forces in nature have the sustaining forces with the timing not only subject but also himself last only training of Serving Whole
III. The human race is destined to go through various stages of culture in various changes; on reason and fairness but the permanent state of his welfare is essential and based solely
IV. According to laws of their inner nature and reason and fairness must gain more space between people and daurendere humanity transported by the timing
V. There reigns a wise kindness in Fate of people; hence there is no more beautiful dignity, no more permanent and purer happiness than to work in their council

fourth part

Sixteenth book

I. Vasken, Galen and Kymren
II. Finns, Latvians and Prussians
III. German peoples
IV. Slavic peoples
V. Foreign peoples in Europe
VI. General considerations and consequences

Seventeenth Book

I. Origin of Christianity, including the principles that lay in it
II. Propagation of Christianity in the Orient
III. Progress of Christianity in the Greek countries
IV. Progress of Christianity in the Latin provinces

Eighteenth book

I. Empire of the Visigoths, Sueven, Alans and Vandals
II. Empire of the Ostrogoths and Lombards
III. Empires of the Alemanni, Burgundians and Franks
IV. Empires of the Saxons, Normans and Danes
V. Nordic empires and Germany
VI. General consideration of the establishment of the German empires in Europe

Book nineteenth

I. Roman Hierarchy
II. Effect of the Hierarchy on Europe
III. Secular guardianship of the Church
IV.
Arab empires V. Effect of the Arab empires
VI. General consideration

Twentieth book

I. Commercial spirit in Europe
II. Knight spirit in Europe
III. Crusades and their Consequences
IV. Culture of Reason in Europe
V. Establishments and Discoveries in Europe
VI. Final note

reception

In conversations with Goethe in the last years of his life, Johann Peter Eckermann reproduces a dialogue in which he asks Goethe what he thinks is the best of Herder's works, to which Goethe replies:

“ His ideas on the history of mankind,” replied Goethe, “are indisputably the most excellent. Later he threw himself on the negative side, and he was not pleasant. "

With his work, Herder influenced both the humanistic notion of general cosmopolitanism and European nationalism .

expenditure

On-line

Zeno

literature

Immanuel Kant: Reviews of JG Herder's ideas on the philosophy of human history. Part 1.2. (1785) ( online)
Hans Dietrich Irmscher: Johann Gottfried Herder . Reclam, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-15-017630-1
Yann Philipp Leiner: Creative story. Philosophy of history, aesthetics and culture with Johann Gottfried Herder. Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-8260-4575-2
Hans Schleier (Hrsg.): Yearbook for History Volume 19. Johann Gottfried Herder and progressive bourgeois history and social theories between 1720 and 1850. Academy, Berlin 1979.

Individual evidence

↑ Hans Dietrich Irmscher: Johann Gottfried Herder. Reclam, Stuttgart 2001, 126
↑ DER SPIEGEL 5/1969 , accessed on November 1, 2014.

[1] Hans Dietrich Irmscher: Johann Gottfried Herder. Reclam, Stuttgart 2001, 126

[2] DER SPIEGEL 5/1969 , accessed on November 1, 2014.