Spengler's Philosophy, and its implication
Europe has 'lost its way'
David L. McNaughton - www.DLMcN.com - DLMcN@yahoo.com
"Comparative Civilizations Review", USA, Fall 2012 (vol. 67), pp. 7-15
Drawing from his major book (and others), and looking
also at his personal correspondence, Spengler's
thesis is described and summarized, interpreting its significance in the context of the Second (and First)
World Wars. An attempt is then made to decide what relevance his ideas might have today.
During the First World War a German historian produced a book which caused quite a stir among intellectuals around the world. By collating events in different (usually non-contemporary) cultures and civilisations, Spengler maintained that it should be possible to fill in gaps in history1, and indeed to set out possibilities for the future, although admittedly only in terms of very broad generalisations.
It was an extremely ambitious undertaking, but after the Second World
War his ideas became unfashionable (mainly for political reasons). Nevertheless,
Spengler's book is a work of monumental scholarship, discussing in depth
such diverse topics as mathematics, music, architecture, painting, theology
and money, with brief but still erudite excursions into other subjects
including law, chemistry, linguistics, space-time relativity and literature,
integrating them all into a single coherent philosophy.
Eight or more 'Higher Organisms'
Most people find it extremely difficult to accept Spengler's basic thesis, namely that cultures and civilisations are living organisms in their own right2, just like plants, animals and humans, although of a much higher rank. Each culture has its own distinctive soul, which expresses itself in artistic, scientific, political, economic and religious forms.
Spengler identifies eight higher organisms. Three of them, the Babylonian, Ancient Egyptian, and Classical (Graeco-Roman), perished long ago, with their landscapes subsequently becoming overlain by later cultures3. (If he were writing today, he might well include in his list the recently discovered pre-Hindu Indus Valley Civilisation). Three others, the Indian, Chinese and Arab-Persian, attained 'old age' many centuries ago; we could also describe these as 'petrified' – in a few respects, they have never been wholly extinguished. A seventh culture matured in Mexico and Guatemala, only to suffer a sudden and violent death at the hands of Spanish invaders (although it could be said that a few 'glowing embers' still remain). Peru might also qualify for inclusion in Spengler’s list.
Our ‘Western’ Culture has not yet completed its life-cycle, although it has already reached 'late adulthood' (hence the title of the book – The Decline of the West). Spengler suggests that another High Culture has started to manifest itself in Russia4. However, because it was 'born' comparatively recently, this culture is handicapped through trying to absorb alien ideas from the much older Western organism; Spengler calls this phenomenon a pseudomorphosis.
Another example of a pseudomorphosis was his Magian Culture, which grew up in the shadow of various older civilisations (in particular the Classical), causing it to become distorted and fragmented into Arabian, Zoroastrian, Byzantine, Hebrew, Coptic, Armenian and other components5. Only with the rise of Islam did this culture manage to break free from the pseudomorphosis and discover its true soul.
One phenomenon which might be easier to explain in terms of a higher organic entity is an increase in male birth-rate to replenish losses incurred in a major war. Admittedly, those instances could simply be accidents of statistics6, but this example does at least help to illustrate the concept and role of a higher organism with its own will and consciousness.
Like individual people, cultural organisms differ in character, ability and aptitude. Thus, calculus and the theory of mathematical functions, soaring Gothic cathedrals and a music based on fugal composition all express characteristically Western passions, which include a love for vast wide-open spaces as well as an intense interest in the distant past and concern for the far future7.
In a contrasting manner, geometry, statics and sculpture were all creative
expressions of a mind obsessed with the corporeal and with here-now
– that which produced the Ancient Greek Culture8. Similarly,
algebra, alchemy and arabesque were all manifestations of another unique
culture-personality, as also were acupuncture, Taoism and Chinese art.
And in the Hindu world, yoga and dance-forms attained levels of sophistication
never equalled elsewhere.
Phases of development
Just as a human being reaches puberty during the second, and full adulthood in the third decade of life, a culture also passes through phases of predetermined sequence whose durations do not vary greatly from one higher organism to another9. Its 'springtime' is characterised by strong religious faith, which slowly gives way to increasing intellectuality and materialism. A culture's 'summer' is an era of great creativity: in Europe, this witnessed the crystallisation of a totally new concept in mathematics (calculus) simultaneously in the minds of two people working quite independently – Newton and Leibniz10. The same centuries saw the birth of oil painting and the flowering of a style of music completely unknown before the advent of Western Culture11.
During 'autumn', life becomes dominated by materialism and by purely rational thought12; Spengler uses the term “Civilization” to denote this particular phase. Warfare between the culture's constituent nations increases in intensity, with tensions between various strata of society also reaching breaking point. Eventually, one state becomes vigorous enough to conquer and absorb all others, imposing an authoritarian Imperium13. In the Classical world this was achieved by the Romans, and in Peru by the Incas. In Central America, the Aztecs were consolidating their gains when Spanish Westerners intervened. In eastern Asia, it was the state of Qin (Ch'in) which ultimately incorporated the rest, giving the name China to the integrated empire.
It may be significant that the driving force for that unification usually came from the fringe-area of the original culture, rather than from its nucleus. For example, Rome was distant from Greece, Qin was the northwesternmost power in ancient China, and the Aztecs migrated to Mexico from somewhere further north. In the Islamic world, the Seljuk Turks invaded from the northeast before establishing an empire embracing most of Persia, Iraq, Syria and Anatolia. The Babylonian states were united by the Amorites, who were originally based in the far west. In South America, the centre of High Culture was the Chimu state on the Peruvian coast, but they eventually succumbed to the Inca people from the high plateau. And the Indian Imperium was forged by the kingdom of Magadha – which was initially confined to the extreme east of the subcontinent (modern-day Bihar) – with its capital at Pataliputra. The reason why the "conquerors" were all people from the edge of their particular culture, might be that they were less 'exhausted' than the older nations in the centre (whose blood and resources had been devoured in earlier centuries when they were the dominant power)14.
During the Imperium, people realise the limitations of a purely intellectual view of the universe, so there is a return to religion – based on that of earlier centuries, but differently experienced through having emerged from a more advanced way of life15.
If Spengler is right that cultures really are living, organic units,
then all those changes are as inevitable as formation of blossom and then
fruit on many trees, or as 'necessary' as the emergence of a butterfly
from the chrysalis of certain insects16. There is only one alternative
– namely sickness followed by premature death of the cultural organism.
The real significance of the Second World War
What stage, according to Spengler, has Western Civilisation reached? His answer will horrify almost everybody – the 20th and 21st centuries were destined to be those of transition into our "Roman-style" era17, but this was prevented (or maybe delayed) by Germany's defeat in two world wars. Any organism's growth and development may be stunted or even destroyed by outside interference (Mexico being the prime example); in that context, Francis Yockey points out that without Russian involvement, the Second World War would have ended quite differently18. Of course, the Nazi leadership had only itself to blame. A real statesman (like Bismarck) would never have engaged all his opponents simultaneously - in addition to ignoring potential allies.
Many writers have pointed out that the Second World War could so easily have witnessed a German victory19. Their defeat can probably be attributed, at least partly, to the incompetence and idiotic decisions made by their Fuehrer.
For example, after invading Russia (against the advice of many of his generals – who preferred to conquer the Middle East first20), Hitler rejected the offer of friendship and co-operation from the Ukrainian and other minorities21. In addition, the German declaration of war on the USA after Pearl Harbor was impulsive and unnecessary22; most Americans did not want to have to fight on two fronts.
Also inexcusable was Hitler's insistence in 1944 that Me262 jet fighter aircraft be converted into (barely effective) bombers23, rendering them incapable of protecting his industries and fuel stores.
It could almost be said that Hitler's first real job in life was Chancellor of the Third Reich. Spengler did actually meet him in 1933, and afterwards expressed strong reservations about Hitler’s suitability for such a powerful role24.
Despite that, Spengler managed to find common ground with the Nazis
on a few issues25, but gradually became disenchanted with them.
In particular, he was not anti-Semitic26. Soon after Hitler's
accession to power, Spengler published The Hour of Decision, warning
that the European Empire lying well within the grasp of Prussian militarism
– was in grave danger of being lost through incompetent leadership27;
the Nazis therefore disowned him.
A possible ‘alternative path’ after 1945
Spengler died in 1936, but if he had been able to assess the conduct and aftermath of the Second World War, what comments would he have made? Undoubtedly, he would have drawn comparisons with earlier civilisations, examining centuries which he thought corresponded biologically to present and coming ones in our own.
For example, he might have reminded us that Caligula and Nero both degenerated into Hitlerian tyrants, but their excesses did not prevent Rome from later enjoying a golden era under Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius.
At the other end of Eurasia, Ying Zheng became First Emperor (Shi Hwang Di) of a united China: he is remembered as a harsh and cruel dictator, despite certain positive achievements. After a nationwide insurrection, his dynasty was replaced by the much less tyrannical Han Empire which, apart from one interruption, controlled China for four centuries. The 'corresponding' period in India was also beset by strife until the reign of King Asoka, who renounced war after being converted to Buddhism.
Spengler does not discuss later developments in those cultures, but it is obvious that without the heritage of Chinese civilisation, there would have been no Tang or Song dynasties, which left us a rich legacy of highly refined art and poetry. Similarly indebted was the Gupta dynasty in India, during which the talented writer Kalidasa composed his poetry and drama. It could therefore be argued that despite various setbacks, the Chinese, Roman, Indian (and Egyptian) empires more than once recovered to regain order and prosperity.
The Nazis were undoubtedly guilty of appalling, unforgivable behaviour
– but, assuming that there is a science of "Culture Morphology", there
are grounds for suggesting that a German victory in World War II would
eventually have seen the Hitlerian terror subsiding, with proper statesmen
arising to govern Europe, drawn not just from Germany, but from other countries
too. A firm date cannot really be given; much would have depended on the
degree of violence accompanying each successive handover of power. In earlier
cultures, many emperors first achieved fame as successful military generals.
Thus, it is appropriate to mention that if the German conspirators in 1944
had managed to eliminate the Hitlerian regime, then Field Marshall Rommel's
name would probably have been among those put forward for Head of State;
Rommel was widely respected by friend and foe alike28.
Our 20th and 21st centuries
If Spengler had lived for a few more decades, what would he have thought about the way in which the world-picture unfolded during the latter half of the 20th century? In particular, might he have conceded that the United States was capable of successfully guiding Western Civilization into and through its final (Caesaristic) phase? Judging by the commentary offered in his books, that does seem rather unlikely29.
Spengler subscribed to what he called "Ethical Socialism", which placed the interests of the State above those of the individual30; (it was not at all akin to Marxism – which championed the proletariat). Thus, Spengler had strong reservations about universal franchise, citing the role played by money in influencing the outcome of elections31. In addition, he believed that democracy made it easy for anonymous powers to operate without any scruples32.
Spengler maintained that money had overstepped its function, ruinously dominating government policies, not to mention the lives of individuals33. In particular, he criticized the heavy reliance on credit in the world of finance, describing it as representing only "phantom, imaginary money-values". Unfortunately, his warning (of 80 years ago!) went unheeded; instead, Western governments have simply permitted the situation to deteriorate out of control.
How would Spengler have assessed American and European foreign policy in the latter part of the 20th century? Again we can probably infer the answer from The Hour of Decision, which makes it clear that he regarded pacifism as a weakness which was not necessarily shared with all non-Westerners34. Thus, we can deduce how he would have reacted to the possibility of Western states deliberately yielding vast tracts of Earth’s surface (and their resources) to ‘outsiders’ – which was precisely what happened during the decades following World War II.
Is it likely that Spengler might have conceded that the present European
Union represents a fulfilment of Western Culture’s final, single-state
phase? He would probably have regarded it as significant that many west-European
countries have voluntarily drawn together after centuries of warfare. But
it is of course primarily an economic union, and Spengler would have cautioned
that this was quite inadequate and fraught with potential problems – because
he did insist that the political functions of government must take precedence
over economic considerations35.
Spengler's personal outlook – and tasks for the future
Spengler emphasised that the only way forward was into what he termed "Caesarism", but at times even he sounded apprehensive about it, admitting that it would be negative and superficial in certain respects36. It is interesting that when discussing the clash between old, hardened Classical Civilisation and young, still hesitant Arabian Culture, his sympathies were very much with the newer one37. When looking at the 20th and 21st centuries, however, his view was tempered by his German patriotism.
On a positive note, Spengler identifies important tasks which still need to be tackled in Western Civilization. A reform of our legal system is one38 – just as the codification of Roman Law was one of the achievements of the late Classical world; Hammurabi did the same for ancient Babylon.
In addition, in our 21st century there is ample opportunity for initiative and new discoveries in engineering and technology; these disciplines usually enjoy their richest development during the 'autumn' of a High Culture39. Furthermore, the Western mind seems to have a particular aptitude for technology.
It would be a pity to ignore Spengler's writings purely on account of
their controversial political implications. The Decline of the West,
particularly, contains a wealth of information and ideas capable of providing
stimulation and enjoyment for a specialist in almost any field of knowledge.
The following abbreviations are used for references to Spengler's books:
DoWI: "The Decline of the West", volume I – George Allen & Unwin, London, 1959; 428 pp. plus index. Originally published by Verlag C.H. Beck, Munich, 1918, as "Der Untergang des Abendlandes".
DoWII: "The Decline of the West", volume II – George Allen & Unwin, London, 1959; 507 pp. plus index. Originally published by Verlag C.H. Beck, Munich, 1922.
HoD: "The Hour of Decision" – Alfred A. Knopf, New York, and George Allen & Unwin, London, 1963; xvi + 230 pp. plus index. Originally published by C.H. Beck, Munich, 1933, as "Jahre der Entscheidung". (The title was changed for the English edition).
PS: "Politische Schriften" (seven essays; some were also published separately) – C.H. Beck, Munich, 1934; xvi + 338 pp.
SL: "Spengler Letters, 1913-1936" – George
Allen & Unwin, London, 1966; 316 pp. plus index. Originally published
by C.H. Beck, Munich, 1963.
Additional Bibliography (referenced using the author’s surname)
Farrenkopf, John: "Prophet of Decline: Spengler on World History and Politics" – Louisiana State University Press, 2001; 290 pp. plus index.
Felken, Detlef: "Oswald Spengler: Konservativer Denker zwischen Kaiserreich und Diktatur" – C.H. Beck, Munich, 1988; 246 pp. plus notes and index.
Kershaw, Ian: "Fateful Choices: Ten Decisions that changed the World, 1940-41" – Penguin Press, New York, 2007; 483 pp. plus notes and index.
Roberts, Andrew: "The Storm of War, a new history of the Second World War" – Allen Lane, London, 2009; 608 pp. plus notes and index.
Yockey, Francis Parker ('Ulick Varange'): "Imperium: the Philosophy
of History and Politics" – Noontide Press, California, 1962;
619 pp. plus index. Originally published by Westropa Press, London, 1948.
Obtainable through amazon.com. Yockey has a good grasp of Spenglerian theory,
but his commentaries on the Jews are best ignored.
1. DoWII pp. 36-37; DoWI pp. 3, 5 et seq., 111-112.
2. DoWI pp. 104, 106-110, 112-113; Yockey pp. 3-12; DoWII pp. 35-37; Farrenkopf p.30.
3. DoWII pp. 39 et seq.
4. DoWII pp. 192 et seq.; PS pp. 122 ("Das Doppelantlitz
Russlands und die deutschen Ostprobleme"), 136-137 ("Politische
Pflichten der deutschen Jugend"); SL pp. 34 (to H. Klöres, 7th
Jun 1915), 44-45 (ibid., 12th Oct 1916), 316 (to W. Drascher,
3rd May 1936). Also see PS pp. 176-179 ("Neue Formen der
... Until 1917, Russia was essentially dominated by Western thought and customs; see HoD pp. 60-61; Yockey pp. 578 et seq., 435.
5. DoWI pp. 212-213; DoWII pp. 42-43, 189-192, 318-323, 256 et seq., 89, 168, 176-178, 203-211, 235.
6. A. Scheinfeld: "The basic facts of human heredity" –
Pan Books, London, and Washington Square Press, USA, 1963; 271 pp. plus
index; see p.37.
... Also mentioned under "Sex Ratio" in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica", volume 20 – USA, 1955; 1006 pp.; see pp. 420, 420B.
7. DoWI pp. 174-178, 203, 183-184, 65.
9. DoWI pp. 109-110, and the Tables at the end of the volume.
10. Was it coincidence that these two exceptional people appeared
simultaneously? Did one in fact steal ideas from the other? Or were they
both just part of the necessary and inevitable development of the Western
cultural organism? (cf. Yockey p.373).
.... The controversy is mentioned under "Newton" in "Chambers's Encyclopaedia", volume IX – International Learning Systems Corporation, London, 1973; 840 pp.; see p.834.
11. Tables at the end of DoWI.
12. DoWI p.424; Yockey pp. 10, 335.
13. DoWI pp. 36-39; DoWII pp. 416 et seq., 422 et seq., 40-41; HoD p.24.
14. Cf. HoD pp. 225-227, 219. Also see note 17 below, regarding Prussia.
15. DoWI pp. 108, 427; DoWII pp. 310-311.
16. Yockey p.352.
17. HoD pp. 18, 32, 40, ix; SL pp. 15 ("Introduction" by
A. Koktanek), 31 (to H. Klöres, 18th Dec 1914), 43-44 (ibid.,
12th Jul 1916), 37 (ibid., 14th Jul 1915 -
quoted by Farrenkopf on p.140). Also see Yockey pp. 567, 576, 610, 616-617,
483, 491, 123-124, 554. Note too that DoWII p.109 names "Germany ... as
the last nation of the West"; cf. DoWII p.182, and Farrenkopf p.50.
... Prussia was of course responsible for unifying Germany – and (like the other states listed in the main text referring to note 14), Prussia was 'on the edge' of its High Culture.
18. Yockey pp. 571-573. Cf. HoD pp. 208-211, 228-229, 61. Also see Roberts p.603, who mentions that out of every five Germans killed in combat, four died on the Eastern Front – emphasizing that this is the "central statistic of the Second World War".
19. Roberts pp. 598-599; Kershaw p.483.
20. Kershaw pp. 81, 84, 86-88; Roberts pp. 149, 588.
21. Roberts p.590; J.F.C. Fuller: "The decisive battles of
the Western world", volume 3 – Eyre &
Spottiswoode, London, 1963; 636 pp. plus index; see pp. 434-437, 421, 415...
.... In addition, Nazi Germany’s relationship with Japan (and maybe with Spain) could have been handled more profitably; see Roberts, pp. 140, 589.
22. Roberts pp. 588-589; Kershaw pp. 416-424, 426.
23. Roberts pp. 586, 446, 527-528. Fully corroborated
by the German ace fighter pilot, General Adolf Galland, towards the end
of "The First and the Last" - Methuen & Co., London, 1955, and
(abridged) Fontana, 1970. Originally published by Franz Schneekluth, Darmstadt,
1953, and Wilhelm Heyne, Munich, 1984, as "Die Ersten und die Letzten"....
.... Confirmed by Nazi Armaments Minister Albert Speer in "Inside the Third Reich" – Sphere Books, London, 1971; 700 pp. plus notes and index; see pp. 488-493, 594. Also published by Wiedenfeld & Nicolson and by MacMillan, New York. Originally published by Propyläen/Ullstein, 1969, as "Erinnerungen".
... (Jet aircraft did not become available to the Allies until 1945).
24. Farrenkopf p.237; Felken p.194….
.... Many people asked Spengler why he did not think Hitler was the right man: see SL pp. 288-289 (from G. Gründel, 16th Oct 1933), 304-305 (from Elizabeth Förster-Nietzsche, 15th Oct 1935), 217 (to A. Fauconnet, 15th Mar 1927), 280 (to R. Schlubach, 18th Apr 1933). Spengler knew that he could not answer their query in writing!
25. HoD page xi; SL p.290 (to J. Goebbels, 3rd Nov 1933) supporting Germany's withdrawal from the League of Nations (but at the same time complaining about anti-Spengler articles in the German Press). Also see Felken pp. 194-198 and 217-223.
26. HoD p.219; PS pp. 202-203 incl. footnote ("Neubau des
deutschen Reiches"); SL p.163 (footnote to A. Doren's letter of 11th
Jun 1924). Also see DoWII p.323...
... Confirmed by Farrenkopf; see pp. 237-238 which refer to Politica I, 54, B3-63 and II, 131, B3-150 (from Spengler's unpublished notes, archived in the Bavaria State Library, Munich).
27. HoD pp. xiv et seq., xii, 7. Perhaps the most telling
point, however, is the absence of any reference to Hitler in HoD – despite
a call for a proper Leader on p.230; cf. Farrenkopf p.236.....
....These points are amplified in Felken pp. 194-198 and 217-223 (including the text of Goebbels's December 1933 Press announcement rejecting Spengler).
28. D. Young: "Rommel" – Fontana, 1965; 271 pp. plus appendices and index; see pp. 238-255.
29. HoD pp. 67-72; DoWII p.475. Also see Yockey pp. 518-520.
30. HoD pp. 188-194, 141 (footnote); PS pp. 15, 24-25, 33 et seq., 39, 45 (all in "Preussentum und Sozialismus"); DoWII p.506. Also see HoD pp. 94-97; DoWI pp. 361-362.
31. HoD pp. 37-40, 145; DoWII pp. 415-416, 455-456, 462-464. Also see DoWII p.447; PS pp. ix-x ("Vorwort").
32. HoD pp. 144-151; DoWI pp. 34-35; PS pp. 69-70 ("Preussentum und Sozialismus"); Yockey pp. 362, 430. Also see HoD pp. 165-166, 190; PS pp. 138-141 ("Politische Pflichten der deutschen Jugend"), 284, 269-270 (both in "Neubau des deutschen Reiches"); Yockey pp. 520-523, 231, 214-218.
33. DoWII pp. 98, 485, 506-507; HoD pp. 165-166, 143-144, 89, 97-100, 72. Also see DoWII p.432; HoD pp. 40-45; PS p.313 ("Das heutige Verhältnis zwischen Weltwirtschaft und Weltpolitik"); Yockey pp. 345, 113-118, 426-428.
34. HoD pp. 227-228, 205, 208-211, 218.
35. HoD pp. 40-45.
36. SL p.43 (to H. Klöres, 12th Jul 1916); DoWII p.339.
37. DoWII pp. 191-192. Also see DoWI pp. 212-213; DoWII pp. 304, 87.
38. DoWII pp.81-83, 78-80. For discussion of problems due to our inheritance from Rome (with a look too at the Arabian Culture), read DoWII pp. 60-78.
39. DoWI p.41; DoWII pp. 501-505; however, Spengler should really
have mentioned the enduring quality of Roman aqueducts and viaducts. Also
see Spengler's "Der Mensch und die Technik" – C.H. Beck,
Munich, 1971 (originally 1931); 62 pp.; read pp. 43-44, 3. (Translated
"Man and Technics" – Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1963;
104 pp.; read pp. 76-77, 6). Relevant too is PS pp. 230-231 ("Neubau
des deutschen Reiches").
CORRESPONDENCE in – http://DLMcN.com/histcorr.html
An earlier version of this study was the Handout at a Political
Theory Workshop held in Manchester, England, in September 2008 – and
is still available online at http://DLMcN.com/spengws.html
History Index Page