Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Short Summary: Romanticism - History of Philosophy

Romanticism is similar to the philosophy of the Renesance in being a reaction to the emphasis on reason inherited from the enlightenment and Kant. Art is important to human cognition. Only art can bring us closer to the inexpressible. University students were anti-middle class at the time. The duty of the romantic was to dream himself away from life. Theme – unrequited love, yearning for nature and natures mysteries. Viewing nature as a whole(Spinoza & before).

Shelling(1775-1854) – The human soul and physical reality are expressions of one absolute world spirit, (like Spinoza). Man bears the whole universe within himself and comes closest to the mysteries of the universe by stepping inside of himself. Nature is an organism, like a flower unfolding or a poet unfolding verses.

von Herder – History is characterized by continuity, evolution and design. We have to identify with other cultures to understand them better. (national identity) 

Universal Romanticism and National Romanticism; National – interested in history, language and culture of the people. Considered plants and the nation to be an organism. Fairly tales & Beethoven, the artist has free reign. (hypnotic trance.)

Previous summary: Immanuel Kant
Next summary: Georg Hegel 
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Good to books to start exploring the history of philosophy: