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Johann Gottfried von Herder and Cultural Nationalism

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Johann Gottfried von Herder was a key figure in cultural nationalism, advocating for the unique cultural character of nations. His work emphasized the importance of language and traditions in shaping national identity and opposed imperialism. Herder's influence extends to German Romanticism and continues to impact discussions on cultural identity and pluralism.

Johann Gottfried von Herder: Pioneer of Cultural Nationalism

Johann Gottfried von Herder, a seminal figure in the development of cultural nationalism, was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic. Born on August 25, 1744, in the East Prussian city of Mohrungen (now Morąg, Poland), Herder's early education was characterized by a broad self-taught curriculum that would later inform his diverse intellectual pursuits. Although he studied under Immanuel Kant at the University of Königsberg, Herder's philosophical outlook was more deeply influenced by the ideas of his mentor Johann Georg Hamann, a critic of the Enlightenment. Herder's thought represented a departure from the Enlightenment's universalist and rationalist tendencies, emphasizing instead the significance of a nation's language and cultural heritage as the core of its identity.
Late 18th-century study room with a mahogany writing desk, open book, quill pen, inkwell, candlelight, and shelves of leather-bound books.

Formative Years and Intellectual Development of Johann Gottfried von Herder

Despite economic constraints that affected his early life, Herder managed to pursue higher education, enrolling at the University of Königsberg at age 17. There, he studied under the tutelage of Immanuel Kant, focusing on philosophy, literature, and theology. However, it was his engagement with the ideas of Johann Georg Hamann that shaped his cultural and historical philosophy. Herder's appointment as a Lutheran pastor in Riga provided him with the opportunity to begin his literary and critical work. His subsequent travels, including a visit to France and a significant encounter with the young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Strasbourg in 1770, were instrumental in the evolution of his thoughts on the interplay between culture and history.

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00

______, a key figure in cultural nationalism, was born on ______ in what is now ______.

Johann Gottfried von Herder

August 25, 1744

Morąg, Poland

01

Herder, a critic of the Enlightenment, valued a nation's ______ and ______ as central to its identity.

language

cultural heritage

02

Herder's higher education location and age

University of Königsberg at age 17

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