Enlightenment, Revolution, and Romanticism: The Genesis of Modern German Political Thought, 1790-1800 by Frederick C. Beiser

Author:Frederick C. Beiser [Beiser, Frederick C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Philosophy, General, Political Ideologies, Political Science, Germany, Philosophy; German, Romanticism, Conservatism, Liberalism
ISBN: 9780674257276
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Published: 1992-05-15T19:49:08+00:00

in their lack of social opportunity, and ultimately in political oppression. 144 There are indeed inequalities in nature, but these are by no means as great as those made by society. 145 It is this ardent egalitarianism that separates Herder most sharply from his conservative contemporaries, who were ready to restrict education to a social elite on the grounds of the natural inferiority of the people. The radical potential of Herder's ideal, then, lies mostly in its egalitarian undertones, in the moral demand that all have a right to develop their inherent powers.

In an important respect Herder's radicalism goes even further: he believed that the government has a responsibility for the realization of humanity in all its citizens. 146 Unlike Humboldt, who shared Herder's ideal of Humanität, he does not think that the government should adopt a laissezfaire policy. For it is simply not the case that all people will be able to develop their humanity if they are left to themselves without the helping hand of the government. Many people are so poor that they must spend most of their time and energy earning the means of subsistence; they have precious little left to develop their higher powers. Hence, if the government does not help them, the ideal of humanity will become the privilege of the wealthy few. Herder therefore concluded that the government has a duty to take active measures to ensure the education of all its citizens; for example, it should build schools and support teachers. The government has the additional duty, Herder also believed, to provide for the physical welfare of all its citizens. It should take steps to ensure that everyone enjoys at least a certain minimum standard of living. 147 That a government's concern for the welfare and education of its citizens might bring undue interference in their affairs is not, however, a problem that Herder cared to contemplate.

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