Read in this country chiefly in the brilliantly faithful translation by charles francis atkinson, the decline of the west new york, two volumes, 192628, spenglers morphology of history was the great intellectual achievement of our century. The decline of the west, first published in 1917, is the major contribution of the german oswald spengler to western thought. The decline of the west by spengler, oswald, 18801936. To spengler, religion is metaphysical, provable not by knowledge but by experience. Spenglers the decline of the west was a major publishing success in.
Oswald spenglers 191822 bestseller the decline of the west mourned the engulfing of kultur by the cosmopolitan anthill of zivilisation and argued that only a dictatorship could arrest the decline. A sweeping account of western culture by a historian of legendary intellect, it is an astonishingly informed, forcefully eloquent, thrillingly controversial work that advances a world view based on the cyclical rise and fall of civilisations. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The first volume, subtitled form and actuality, was published. The book was first published in 1918, when the first world war was in its last throes.
The decline of the west work by spengler britannica. The decline of the west abridged edition by oswald spengler. The west has currently outlived spenglers book by 100 years. If i had to choose one word to identify the uniqueness of the west it would be faustian. Indeed, according to edwin franden dakin 2, spengler obscured all facts about his life stating only that his family was engaged in the mining business. In the decline of the west, spengler defines the west as comprising western europe and the united states.
The decline of the west is one of the most important works of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time. English abridged edition prepared by arthur helps from the translation by charles francis atkinson. Jan 19, 2014 oswald spengler decline of the west vol1 pg. On may 29, 1880, german historian and philosopher oswald arnold gottfried spengler was born. Read in this country chiefly in the brilliantly faithful translation by charles francis atkinson, the decline of the west new york, two volumes, 192628, spengler s morphology of history was the great intellectual achievement of our century. He proposed a new theory, according to which the lifespan of civilizations is limited and ultimately they decay. Oswald spenglers the decline of the west was a huge international bestseller after the first world war for reasons that will become obvious, and for reasons that may be just as much so, spengler considered his theories prophetic and completely justified given that he started this book in 1911 before the shit totally hit the fan. Download pdf the decline of the west book full free. Oswald spenglers the decline of the west was and still is a controversial book. An interbellum german intellectuals work is a powerful warning to americans about the perils of. In spenglers conception, decline is a most protracted process, in no way comparable, metaphorically speaking, to the sinking of an ocean liner.
The decline of the west book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Culture vs civilization in spenglers decline of the west. There is hardly a book written in the past 150 years that can surpass spenglers decline of the west in the depth of understanding, interpreting and explaining the logic behind cultural phenomena and its relationship to the historical development of civilizations in general. There is hardly a book written in the past 150 years that can surpass spengler s decline of the west in the depth of understanding, interpreting and explaining the logic behind cultural phenomena and its relationship to the historical development of civilizations in general.
We have been hearing warnings about the decline of the west for almost a century now, since oswald spengler made that phrase the title of his hyperbolic 1918 bestseller. The decline of the west edition 2 by oswald spengler. The decline of the west available for download and read online in other formats. In the decline of the west, german philosopher and mat.
Why the decline of the west is the best thing to happen to us. I wouldnt bother, but spenglers book is filled covertocover with this notveryhelpful distinction. Since its first publication in two volumes between 19181923, the decline of the west has ranked as one of the most widely read and most talked about books of our time. Spengler wrote prolifically, but his best known work was variously translated as decline of the west, or as my pdf copy says, decline of the occident, which gives some insight into his specific worldviews at a time when he and much of europe was preoccupied with the fate of european dominance. I discuss oswald spenglers theory of history, as presented in his book the decline of the west, and i suggest how social movements in. Since its first publication more than eighty years ago, the decline of the west has ranked as one of the most widely read and talked about books of our time. Pdf the decline of the west download full pdf book. Reflections on spengler allow for the thought that his own biography is an eloquent metaphor for one of the most.
But it is forfeiting, or is going to forfeit, its dominance, particularly in the context of the rise of china even within the west, there are tensions between the united states and some of its partners and allies. Publication date c1918 topics civilization history. The genesis of the decline of the west it was during this time in munich, where spengler seemed to have reached such a desperate point in his own lifes history, that he abruptly formed a new and striking vision of the worlds history. Oswald spengler the decline of the west oswald spengler may 29, 1880 may 8, 1936 was a german philosopher and mathematician. Stockton shortly before the end of the first world war, in the summer of 1918, a sizable volume appeared in bookstores throughout germany. Pdf download the decline of the west free unquote books. In it, spengler rejects the idea that the future of the west or indeed of any culture is an openended advance from the primitive past to an ever more glorious and expansive future. A twentiethcentury cassandra, oswald spengler thoroughly probed the origin and fate of our civilization, and the result can be and has been read as a. Other articles where the decline of the west is discussed. The decline of the west is the magnum opus of oswald spengler 18801936, a german historian and philosopher. The decline of the west abridged spengler, oswald on.
Download the decline of the west in pdf and epub formats for free. The study presents the end of western civilization as. Jan 18, 2014 we have been hearing warnings about the decline of the west for almost a century now, since oswald spengler made that phrase the title of his hyperbolic 1918 bestseller. The decline of the west or the downfall of the occident, is a twovolume work by oswald spengler. And what a contribution it was first of all, the work, which this edition is an abridged version, is tainted by accusations of being pro nazi and amiable to fascism in general and to mussolini in particular. The definitive edition of both volumes was published in 1923. For those who dont know about spengler, that yt video is a terrible intro to the man and his works. May 19, 2016 i discuss oswald spengler s theory of history, as presented in his book the decline of the west, and i suggest how social movements in the middle east, notably islamic state, may represent the. Oswald spengler, the decline of the west wikipedia. He was a high school teacher who took early retirement.
Sociologist max weber hoped for charismatic leadership. He thus notes that it took approximately one thousand years for creativity to spend itself in china the nuclear creative epoch here is the period of the warring states, and that the cultures. The first volume, subtitled form and actuality, was published in the summer of 1918. The longue duree of spenglers thesis of the decline of the west dois. Spengler was thirtyeight when the first volume of the decline of the west was first published having begun thinking about the idea of the book seven years earlier.
Spengler wrote prolifically, but his best known work was variously translated as decline of the west, or as my pdf copy says, decline of the occident, which gives some insight into his specific worldviews at a time when he and much of europe was preoccupied with the fate of. His work the decline of the west argues that the development of civilizations follows a recognizable series of repetitive rises and falls. The second volume, subtitled perspectives of world history, was published in 1922. The decline of the west, published in 1918 and 1922 english translation, 1928, in its time attracted much public. Have you read the decline of the west, and what is it about. Mar 18, 2017 i read spenglers the decline of the west more than two decades ago. The decline of the west by oswald spengler an abridged edition by helmut werner english abridged edition prepared by arthur helps from the translation by charles francis atkinson new york. The decline of the west npr coverage of the decline of the west by oswald spengler, helmut werner, arthur, sir helps, and charles francis atkinson. The decline of the west abridged edition by oswald. Oswald spengler project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Spenglers the decline of the west was a major publishing success in weimar germany.
Even though it has been virtually forgotten in modern times, its bold predictions for the western world have withstood the test of time and even been strengthened by its passage. Spengler revised this volume in 1922 and published the second volume, subtitled perspectives of world history, in 1923. Oswald spengler, the decline of the west and islamic state. Oswald arnold gottfried spengler 29 may 1880 8 may 1936 was a german historian and philosopher of history whose interests included mathematics, science, and art. For the sake of those who may need to reference spenglers decline of the west, i thought i should start what i hope to be my final post on spengler by briefly describing his idiosyncratic distinction between culture and civilization. Oswald manuel arnold gottfried spengler 18801936 was a german historian and philosopher. Oswald spengler the decline of the west, volume one. The longue duree of spenglers thesis of the decline of the west. A twentiethcentury cassandra, oswald spengler thoroughly probed the origin and fate of our civilization.
In all its various editions, it has sold nearly 100,000 copies. This summer will mark the centenary of the appearance of the first volume of oswald spenglers influential the decline of the west. Why the decline of the west is the best thing to happen to. Have you read the decline of the west, and what is it. One hundred years later there is again a widespread sense that we are witnessing the decline of the west. A twentiethcentury cassandra, oswald spengler thoroughly probed the origin and fate of our civilization, and the result can be and has. Oswald spengler and the decline of the west november 12, 2015 by daniel halverson 4 comments one day the last portrait of rembrandt and the last bar of mozart will have ceased to bethough possibly a colored canvas and a sheet of notes will remainbecause the last eye and the last ear accessible to their. Spengler was not a professor or professional historian. I read spenglers the decline of the west more than two decades ago. Apr 11, 2006 the decline of the west, first published in 1917, is the major contribution of the german oswald spengler to western thought.
680 655 841 880 340 9 1378 763 348 1485 325 610 1041 1454 1550 1574 1414 5 784 1055 1083 960 514 750 207 860 182 313 628 568 984 28 496 50 78 49 515 1264 529