Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.26362/20180302

Timely Meditations?: Oswald Spengler’s Philosophy of History Reconsidered

Gregory Morgan Swer orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-2337 ; School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban 4041, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Sažetak

This paper argues that the recent renewal of interest in the philosophy of
Oswald Spengler, particularly concerning its warnings of the imminent demise of Western Civilisation, is misplaced. Arguments concerning the accuracy of his predictions or cultural analysis have overlooked the necessity of evaluating the coherence of the philosophical system that Spengler used to generate and justify his speculative declarations. Such an evaluation indicates a number of apparent contradictions at the heart of Spengler’s historical model. The attempt to resolve these contradictions has resulted in a sharp division of interpretation amongst Spengler commentators, into positivist and relativist camps. Neither interpretation, I suggest, is capable of rendering Spengler’s historical system coherent. It is therefore argued that Spengler’s philosophy is fundamentally flawed.

Ključne riječi

Comparative analysis of cultures; Oswald Spengler; philosophy of history; positivism; relativism.

Hrčak ID:

217927

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/217927

Datum izdavanja:

27.12.2018.

Posjeta: 2.349 *