Uncompromising pessimist, spengler sounded the knell of western civilization, which he said had passed maturity, was beginning a swift senescence. The decline of the west 2 volumes by oswald spengler, used. Oswald spengler, born may 29, 1880, blankenburg, germanydied may 8, 1936, munich, german philosopher whose reputation. Decline of the west download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Oswald arnold gottfried spengler project gutenberg self. Buy the decline of the west oxford paperbacks abridged edition by spengler, oswald isbn. Read the decline of the west by oswald spengler available from rakuten kobo.
The decline of the west,volume 1 english edition ebook. The decline of the west,volume 2 toc english edition. Spenglers work describes how we have entered into a centurieslong worldhistorical phase comparable to late antiquity, and his controversial ideas spark debate over the meaning of historiography. English abridged edition prepared by arthur helps from the translation by charles francis atkinson. Despite spenglers reputation today as an extreme pessimist, the decline of the west remains essential reading for anyone interested in the history of civilization. When the first volume of the decline of the west appeared in germany a few years ago, thousands of copies were sold. A sweeping account of western culture by a historian of legendary intellect, it is an astonishingly informed, forcefully eloquent, thrillingly. Perspectives of worldhistory by spengler, oswald and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mar 27, 2017 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.
The decline of the west edition 2 by oswald spengler. Apr 11, 2006 spengler chose his main title in 1912, finished a draft of the first volume two years later, and published it in 1918. To spengler, religion is metaphysical, provable not by knowledge but by experience. I read spenglers the decline of the west more than two decades ago. The decline of the west, or the downfall of the occident, is a twovolume work by oswald spengler, the first volume of which was published in the summer of 1918. Decline of the west oswald spengler a wellformatted version based on the alfred a. According to spengler, the western world is ending and we are witnessing the last seasonwinter timeof the faustian civilization. His monumental decline of the west galvanized the attention of european and u.
In all its various editions, it has sold nearly 100,000 copies. Oswald spengler project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Spengler s first work was included in most discussions of historical thinking, as well as discussions of possible future events. The title of the book, the decline of the west, suggests its central thesis that spengler wants to show that his culture, western culture, has passed its cultural stage, has entered upon its stage of civilization and is living out its ending. Volumes 1 and 2 kindle edition by spengler, oswald, payne, david. Oswald spengler has 36 books on goodreads with 16774 ratings. Free books history world general the decline of the west. The decline of the west project gutenberg selfpublishing. In the decline of the west, spengler defines the west as comprising western europe and the united states. This is the theory of everything in the field of humanities. 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. The decline of the west by oswald spengler book resume. This page contains details about the nonfiction book decline of the west by oswald spengler published in 1918. The decline of the west, first published in 1917, is the major contribution of the german oswald spengler to western thought.
Form and actuality pdf ebooks only at protectourcoastline. 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 was first published in this country in 1926 vol. Books by oswald spengler author of the decline of the west. 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. 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. The decline of the west, or the downfall of the occident, is a twovolume. What, then, was the unique nature of the decline of the west, and why has interest in the work so faded in the intervening time. The decline of the west is one of the most important works of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time. The decline of the west work by spengler britannica. No defeatist, in the hour of decision he rings a tocsin. 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.
Oswald spengler was born in 1880 at blankenburg, germany. 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. The decline of the west is the magnum opus of oswald spengler 18801936, a german historian and philosopher. The decline of the west by oswald spengler, paperback. 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. Sociologist max weber hoped for charismatic leadership to overcome bureaucracy. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. His challenging views have led to harsh criticism over the years, but the knowledge and eloquence that went into his sweeping study of western culture have kept. In the decline of the west, german philosopher and mat. Spengler revised this volume in 1922 and published the second volume, subtitled perspectives of world history, in 1923. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Spengler chose his main title in 1912, finished a draft of the first volume two years later, and published it in 1918. Except for his doctors thesis on heraclitus, he published nothing before the first volume of the decline of the west, which appeared when he was thirtyeight. The first volume, subtitled form and actuality, was published in the summer of 1918. The decline of the west by oswald spengler librarything.
Further, who was this unknown oswald spengler, and how did. He studied mathematics, philosophy, and history at munich and berlin. The decline of the west by oswald spengler is available in. The decline of the west by oswald spengler overdrive. 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. 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. A sweeping account of western culture by a historian of legendary intellect, it is an astonishingly informed, forcefully eloquent, thrillingly controversial.
The second, concluding volume was published in 1922. Decline of the west by oswald spengler the 1140th greatest. Not since nietzsche left his indelible mark upon european thought has a work of philosophy come out of germany, or any other country in europe, comparable in importance, brilliance and encyclopaedic knowledge with the decline of the west. 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. Have you read the decline of the west, and what is it about. The national humiliation of the treaty of versailles 1919 and later the economic depression around 1923 fueled by hyperinflation seemed to prove spengler right. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading decline of the west. 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. It must be left to critics to say whether it was destiny or incident using these words in the authors sense that spenglers untergang des abendlandes appeared in july, 1918, that is, at the very turning point of the four years world war.
This book is the 1140th greatest nonfiction book of all time as determined by. Cultivated european discourse quickly became spenglersaturated. Oswald spenglers most popular book is the decline of the west. Spenglers first work was included in most discussions of historical thinking, as well as discussions of possible future events. If you regularly enjoy the quality content that john david ebert consistently offers viewers on this youtube channel, please.
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