ОСВАЛЬД ШПЕНГЛЕР О НЕМЕЦКОМ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОМ ХАРАКТЕРЕ

Abstract

The reader is offered a translation of an essay by the famous German scholar Oswald Spengler “Vom deutschen Volkscharakter” (“On the German national character”) with an introduction to the translated text. In this work, Spengler made an attempt to elucidate some cultural features specific to his nation. The analysis was carried out in a broad context of German history and cultural characteristics of other nations. According to Spengler, the German mentality is characterized by such features as increased discipline (“unlimited need to serve”) and a lack of commitment to political calculation and “political theatre”. At the same time, he emphasizes Germans’ gullibility with regard to such a form of political leadership as “führership”. Spengler's work may be of interest both to historians and political scientists applying the methodology of axiological analysis for investigating various political phenomena.