Hey meine deutsche Kumpeln, was ist los? Do you have any English subtitles or translations? I'm just an American fellaheen in this Nihilistic Faustian Civilization looking for as much content and commentary on Spengler as I can find. I'm almost done with Volume II of Untergang des Abendlandes. His various concepts and predictions, well, I think it can fairly be said they add up to the most thought-provoking work of historiography ever written. But, at the end of the day, my God, what is up with all the esotericism, evident sympathy for gnosticism, and other excesses of German Idealism that this dynamo leaves on darn near every page? I imagine he wouldn't have his greatness if he weren't willing to say all the other kinds of things he says, the kinds of things that have caused so many millions to tune out the German Idealists since Kant, Hegel, and the rest unleashed this stream of intoxicating quasi-mystical nonsense upon our fair world. (I say that all in good fun. Obviously, I could only dream of having the intellectual impact of any of these very unfortunate Central European gentlemen). Anyway, I'd love it if anyone reading this could send me any suggestions for English-language commentaries, articles, or other documents about Oswald Spengler and his approach to historiography. I really like his central ideas. Reading Gustave Le Bon last year was very eye-opening, and I feel that Spengler builds on what GLB had to say 100-fold. But the Spenglerian approach to historiography can only be one tool in the chest--at least as far as I understand it so far--because I think there needs to be room for, at the very least, a greater cycle in the background of the cycles of the Great Cultures--the cycle of technological growth. Spengler and GLB are a refreshing--almost cathartic--respite from the relentless materialism of the modern age--but you still need sufficient materialism to temper the excesses of idealism. E.g. researches into domestication of animals, invention of seminal technologies like the wheel, etc. Would love to hear any thoughts from anyone in the Oswald Spengler Society or who sees this. I hope you post some more videos again soon--and maybe some good lectures in English too :)
Hey meine deutsche Kumpeln, was ist los? Do you have any English subtitles or translations? I'm just an American fellaheen in this Nihilistic Faustian Civilization looking for as much content and commentary on Spengler as I can find. I'm almost done with Volume II of Untergang des Abendlandes. His various concepts and predictions, well, I think it can fairly be said they add up to the most thought-provoking work of historiography ever written. But, at the end of the day, my God, what is up with all the esotericism, evident sympathy for gnosticism, and other excesses of German Idealism that this dynamo leaves on darn near every page? I imagine he wouldn't have his greatness if he weren't willing to say all the other kinds of things he says, the kinds of things that have caused so many millions to tune out the German Idealists since Kant, Hegel, and the rest unleashed this stream of intoxicating quasi-mystical nonsense upon our fair world. (I say that all in good fun. Obviously, I could only dream of having the intellectual impact of any of these very unfortunate Central European gentlemen). Anyway, I'd love it if anyone reading this could send me any suggestions for English-language commentaries, articles, or other documents about Oswald Spengler and his approach to historiography. I really like his central ideas. Reading Gustave Le Bon last year was very eye-opening, and I feel that Spengler builds on what GLB had to say 100-fold. But the Spenglerian approach to historiography can only be one tool in the chest--at least as far as I understand it so far--because I think there needs to be room for, at the very least, a greater cycle in the background of the cycles of the Great Cultures--the cycle of technological growth. Spengler and GLB are a refreshing--almost cathartic--respite from the relentless materialism of the modern age--but you still need sufficient materialism to temper the excesses of idealism. E.g. researches into domestication of animals, invention of seminal technologies like the wheel, etc. Would love to hear any thoughts from anyone in the Oswald Spengler Society or who sees this. I hope you post some more videos again soon--and maybe some good lectures in English too :)