1

Spengler’s Philosophy

If correct, then

Europe has ‘lost its way’

2

A ‘High Culture’ is an Organic Unit -

… >

a self-contained, independent

‘Higher Creature’ with its own

soul, consciousness, character,

will and personality.

3

Living, organic entities -

RANKING:

High Cultures

Humans

Animals

Plants

4

Nine or more High CulturesBabylonian

Ancient EgyptianIndian

ChineseGreek/RomanArab/PersianMayan/Aztec

WesternRussian (still very “young”)

? Indus Valley …. ? Andean S. America

5

Living, organic entities -

High Cultures

Humans: infancy > adulthood

Animals

Plants: > blossom > fruit

6

Phases of Developmentin a High Culture

• 1. Religious Faith

• 2. Intellectual achievements, Mathematics Music, Art and Culture; Age of Reason • 3. Unification, Second Religiousness

• 4. Decay

7

Universal States:

• Hammurabi: Amorites >Babylon• Thothmes III: Egypt ~1450 BC• [Indus Valley – ‘killed’ before achieving it• Chandragupta/Asoka: India ~300 BC• Shi Hwang Di: Qin >China ~200 BC• Romans• Incas• [Aztecs: Mexico• [Seljuk Turks: South West Asia ~1100 AD

8

Phases of Developmentin a High Culture

Necessary – according to Organic Laws

• 1. Religious Faith

• 2. Intellectual achievements, Mathematics, Music, Art and Culture; Age of Reason • 3. Unification, Second Religiousness

• 4. Decay

9

Universal States:

• Hammurabi: Amorites >Babylon• Thothmes III: Egypt ~1450 BC• [Indus Valley – ‘killed’ before achieving it• Chandragupta/Asoka: India ~300 BC• Shi Hwang Di: Qin >China ~200 BC• Romans• Incas• [Aztecs: Mexico• [Seljuk Turks: South West Asia ~1100 AD

• ? [Prussia/Germany >Europe ~1940 AD

10

Phases of Developmentin a High Culture

Necessary – according to Organic Laws

• 1. Religious Faith

• 2. Intellectual achievements, Mathematics, Music, Art and Culture, Age of Reason

• 3. 2nd Religiousness, Unification - Enlightened Dictatorship [Caesarism]

• 4. Decay

11

What has “gone wrong”?

• Tyranny of Money

• Crime … Laws inadequate?

• Threats from Islamic fundamentalism etc.

• Society – weakening of Family Structure

12

Phases of Developmentin a High Culture

Necessary – according to Organic Laws

• 1. Religious Faith

• 2. Intellectual achievements, Mathematics, Music, Art and Culture, Age of Reason

• 3. Unification [Caesarism], 2nd Religiousness, Advanced Technology, Legal Reform

• 4. Decay

13

Spengler’s Philosophy

If correct, then

Europe has ‘lost its way’http://DLMcN.com/spengslides.ppt

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