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The Idea of Decline in Western History

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Herman provides an excellent introduction to the philosophy of history. The writing is exceptionally lucid for a topic so demanding. "Serious scholars" might not appreciate summary discussions of Spengler, Hegel, Toynbee, Chamberlain, Dubois, Garvey, Aquinas, and others, but the form of Herman's presentation suits his ultimate goal just fine. Furthermore, the willing reader will learn a great deal about classic works in the field AND be entertained. "The Idea of Decline" constantly challenges one to consider the value of clearly stated world views and, if readers share my experience, they will be encouraged to pursue further reading in the philosophy of history with vigor. In sum : A great, thought-provoking read.

I first encountered the idea of decline, in the 1970's as a graduate student in physics, through the work of my professor, the historian of science Stephen G. Brush. Professor Brush associated the idea of decline with the discovery of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In spite of my admiration for Brush (whose book, THE TEMPERATURE OF HISTORY, Herman does not mention), I think that Herman has done a better job in describing the history of the Idea of decline, which indeed arose long before the Second Law was discovered. Rather, I now believe -- in large part because of the evidence Herman has presented in this book -- that the Second Law was interpreted as a guarantee of ineviable decline BECAUSE the virus of the idea of decline was already infecting the Western mind. (The physicist Pierre Duhem pointed out in the late 19th century that the Second Law actually does not imply inevitable decline.) Herman has written what is probably the best defense of the Enlightenment ideals, namely progress through physicial science and rationality, that I have seen in many years. Herman describes at length the personal connections between the philosophers of decline, and I think this description is one of the book's greatest strengths. Herman emphasizes the remarkable fact that all the Decliners, Left and Right, were united by a deep hatred for both Newtonian mechanics and Christianity. On reflection, this common hatred is not surprising, since these are the foundation of modern human civilization which the Decliners also hate and aim to destroy, as documented by Herman at length in this book. An extraordinary achievement. I'm very pleased that there are still scholars like Herman. With men like Herman around, writing books like this, the Decliners may yet fail to destroy civilization.

The viewpoint of Spengler on the decline of the West is an insidious thesis whose continued popularity and beguiling appeal endures notwithstanding the severe flaws that emerge on closer examination. The same could be said for Toynbee's elaboration of the idea of the West's inevitable decline. Herman here joins the ranks of the critics and, despite a prickly bias in his viewpoint, makes a good case for the fallacy of the prophets of doom. And this via the history, e.g. such works as Nordau's Degeneration, of the constellation of ideas behind these first of the 'postmoderns'. In some ways the view of the classical liberal is an appropriate response to the cockeyed conservatism of Spengler, and here we have the correct suggestion the rise of the modern is a creative era in world history, and not the tail end of some Faustian civilization beginning in the year 1000 AD.
Still, the issue of decline won't go away, if only because nothing lasts forever. But the latter is not an historical thesis or theory, and it is false to say that decline is inevitable, let alone that some invigorating barbarism will renew our esthetics. So far from being an aberration the Enlightenment brought into being a new age of history, and to foresee decline, and this unconsciously willed as some perverse progress, bespeaks only the idiotic epigone of Nietzche. Herman makes this basic point in a fashion that might not sit well with the mystique of the Spenglerian horde. As for Toynbee, his mechanics of history simply cannot deal with the facts of the rise of the West or its significance in any intelligent way, as if the author stepped from some medieval monastery to be appalled at the end times in the birth of freedom. Let's hope we don't go down fighting against this tide of willed self-destruction which seems attractive to the enemies of the Enlightenment. A bit 'thinktankish', but a useful work.

_The Idea of Decline in Western History_ (1997) by historian Arthur Herman is an interesting study of the notion of decline and the decline theory applied to Western history. Herman traces the origins of the notion of decline to ancient sources, noting how generational conflicts gave rise to an older generation seeing a younger generation as in decline. Herman considers how these notions came to take on an important role in European and Western history in which civilization came to be understood as entering a period of decline from a previous era. In contrast to theories of progress, which argued that civilization and "civil society" had come about through a progression from previous eras, decline theorists maintained that civilization had entered a period of decadence and decline following some previous Golden Age. In fact, the decline theory amounts to an understanding of the nature and meaning of time and may be seen in the notion of "inevitable historical laws". Perhaps the most notorious decline theorists were those who made arguments concerning degeneration or in a similar vein to Oswald Spengler's famous _The Decline of the West_ which argued that Western history had entered an inescapable period of decline. Herman considers various versions of this theory that proliferated in Western history ranging from ancient times to the Renaissance to nineteenth century racial theories and theories of degeneration to the decline theories of various German academics to modern leftist theories of decline and multiculturalism and finally to ecological theories of decline which have come to play a more important role in the recent era. This book offers a fascinating study of the origins of such theories and the role of cultural pessimism in Western history and philosophy.

The book includes the following chapters -

Introduction - explains the proliferation of various decline theories in recent times concerning the decline of American power, American democracy, the end of capitalism and other issues. Relates these to other theories of decline as advocated by conservative theorists as well as those advocated by radical ecological thinkers including the Unabomber. Explains the issue of these decline theories and relates them to the history of decline.

Part One: The Languages of Decline.

Progress, Decline, and Decadence - notes the role of progress in Western and European history and explains how progress relates to the continuation of time. Examines how decline theories deny progress and maintain that civilization has declined relating them to a second way of experiencing time's continuation. Considers ancient ideas of decline as seen in the writings of the ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Christians, and pagans in which an older generation frequently came to take issue with a younger generation as being weaker and less accomplished. Notes how the view of progress came to take over European history relating this to the development of science. In particular, thinkers such as Marx, Smith, and Spencer advocated this view of progress in line with Enlightenment thinking. In particular, the nineteenth century came to be seen as the culmination of progress in Enlightenment science. This belief in progress was reflected in the rise of civilization in which a new form of "politeness" was reflected in the values of tolerance which allegedly made civilization possible. However, a romantic movement was to develop which offered a reactionary alternative to the values of the Enlightenment.

Afloat on the Wreckage: Arthur de Gobineau and Racial Pessimism - explains how theories of aristocratic decline were taken up by Arthur de Gobineau, a French intellectual who grew to despise money, the bourgeoisie, and the French revolution. Explains the opposition to modernity of Gobineau as well as the romantic adherences as such individuals as the French poet de Nerval or the German philosopher Schlegel. In particular, de Gobineau's racial theories came to be taken up in the belief of a superior Aryan race which was to occupy thinkers for much of the nineteenth century. These romantic notions of an Aryan race were also addressed by German thinkers such as Schlegel.

Historical and Cultural Pessimism: Jacob Burckhardt and Friedrich Nietzsche - examines how the ideas of cultural pessimism came to take on an important role in the thinking of Jacob Burckhardt and his friend Nietzsche. Notes how the elitist adherences of Burckhardt and Nietzsche were seen in opposition to democracy, the revolution, and socialism as well as belief in a superior aristocracy which had entered a period of decline. Considers the relationship between Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Wagner, including the Eastern and Buddhist influences in Schopenhauer's writings which also came to be reflected in Nietzsche's nihilism. Notes the role of opposition to Christianity in Nietzsche's writings and his extreme view of cultural pessimism.

Degeneration: Liberalism's Doom - explains how various theories regarding biological degeneration came to take root through the writings of the criminologist Caesare Lombroso and also reflected in the conservative critic and follower of Lombroso, Max Nordau. In particular, these theories of degeneration came to take on a Darwinian perspective and were played out in the eugenics movement. Such thinkers believed that the stresses of the modern world had led to a biological degeneration giving rise to feeble-mindedness responsible for a criminal class and other issues. Nordau was to criticize various modern artists and poets, which others such as the theorist Durkheim took up similar issues. Individuals such as Galton and Ernst Haeckel were to create the modern science of eugenics as well as the science of ecology. Also, Sigmund Freud was to take up theories of degeneration and decline in formulating the principles of psychoanalysis.

Part Two: Predicting the Decline of the West.

Gilded Age Apocalypse: Henry and Brooks Adams - considers the case of American history and the role of Calvinism and the Puritans as well as the Anglican church in early American history. Notes the importance of Henry Adams in arguing for tradition and progress and the importance of old New England and its rich history. Explains the role of aristocrats and Anglo-Saxons in early America and their influence on society following the Civil War. Notes the role of various decline theories especially as they concerned the role of American democracy. Considers the case of Brooks Adams and his theories of civilization and its decline. Explains Brooks Adams relation to progressivism including the role of such thinkers as Henry George and Albert Jay Nock. Notes the studies of Adams on banking and finance, the role of the frontier, imperialism, and the postliberal state as well as various theories of degeneration. Notes the rise of American racial theories following the civil war of Anglo-Saxon supremacy. Notes how these theories were reflected in the opposition to immigrants and arguments for Anglo-Saxon racial superiority of Lothrop Stoddard and Madison Grant borrowing heavily from such European thinkers as Gobineau and Houston Stewart Chamberlain.

Black Over White: W. E. B. Dubois - notes the role of racial theories as they concerned black Americans. In particular, notes the rise of W. E. B. Dubois, an educated and aristocrat black man, and his theories of race and civilization in America. Notes Dubois travels and adoption of the German racial theories concerning the Volk and applying them to African theories and the "dark nations". Notes the role of Pan-Africanism and the adoption of Dubois' theories and other racial theories to those of black nationalists such as Marcus Garvey.

The Closing of the German Mind: Oswald Spengler and _The Decline of the West_ - explains how Oswald Spengler, a German thinker, came to take up the decline theories of Nietzsche and argue for the decline of Western civilization in his most famous book. Notes Spengler's pessimism and the role of pan-Germanists and Spengler's arguments concerning Germany and the role of technics and Kultur. Explains Spengler's influence on the Nazis and Hitler but also noting Spengler's opposition to Hitler. Notes the role of Spengler's organicist view of history and the role of Weimar, militarism in Germany, war, politics, and the role of civilization. Notes various others influence by Spengler including Ernst Junger and Werner Sombart as well as other German decline theorists. Considers the importance of Spengler's work and notes his extreme pessimism which culminated in his book _The Hour of Decision_.

Welcoming Defeat: Arnold Toynbee - explains the influence of Spengler and decline theories on the British historian Arnold Toynbee. Notes how Toynbee came to take up Spengler's theories and the decline theory but also argued for the influence of spiritual factors on history. Notes the role of progress, decline, and empire in Victorian Britain as well as the legacy of Toynbee. Considers Toynbee's theories as they concerned the Cold War, his opposition to the state of Israel and the Vietnam War, and his arguments that Western civilization had entered an irreversible period of decline. Explains the legacy of Toynbee other historians but notes for example William McNeil's reaction to the decline theories in his book _The Rise of the West_.

The Critical Personality: The Frankfurt School and Herbert Marcuse - explains how various German and Jewish intellectuals came to America following the rise of the Nazis. Notes the role of German Marxism and the rise of the Frankfurt school following the First World War. Notes the prominence of such theorists as Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Franz Neumann, Erich Fromm, and Herbert Marcuse on the Left and their role in the Frankfurt School and in America. Notes the most important influence on these thinkers of both Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx. Explains the opposition of these thinkers to capitalism and Western culture, noting their opposition in particular to fascism and their claim that the capitalist West was fascistic. Notes the role of the Nazis and the argument of the Frankfurt School that not only did their rise represent Western decline but also that they were the heirs to the Enlightenment tradition. Explains the role of "authoritarian civilization" and the impact of Freud on the thinkers of the Frankfurt School and the Left. Notes the role of various theories concerning the fascistic nature of American culture and capitalism and the role of the book _The Authoritian Personality_ arguing that the American culture contained fascist elements within it. Explains the theories of Herbert Marcuse combining Marx and Freud and arguing for a utopia following Western decline. Notes the influence of Marcuse on the Left and his opposition to the Vietnam War.

The Modern French Prophets: Sartre, Foucault, Fanon - explains the role of French thinkers concerning the decline theory noting the prominent influence of the French thinker Bergson. Explains how existentialism arose in France following the world wars in a period of disillusionment, noting the influence of German phenomenologists including Husserl and Heidegger. Explains Sartre's theories in his book _Being and Nothingness_ as well as his relationship to communism and Stalinism. Notes the role of Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, and communism and the arguments of the French Marxist Left. Considers the case of Michel Foucault and his opposition to social structures and arguments for madness and his arguments concerning sexual liberation. Notes the influence of Foucault on the Left as well as his various theories and questions concerning his scholarship. Considers the thinker Franz Fanon who examined the case of various black liberation movements. Notes Fanon's arguments of decline and the argument for the "wretched of the Earth", those African nations in opposition to the West.

The Multiculturalist Impulse - explains the case of multiculturalism in America as opposed to the "melting pot" theory. Notes how the racial and decline theories of various European intellectuals came to be taken up and distorted by New Left thinkers in arguing against white and Western culture and for the culture of black and colored peoples. Notes the role of New Left thought and the influence of such thinkers as Noam Chomsky and other radicals. Explains how such theories were expressed in New Left critiques of Western culture, identity politics, and support for black and Native American liberation movements. Explains how Afro-centric theories were developed some arguing against Western science and for black supremacy. Ultimately however noting the debt of such theories to European intellectuals and decline theorists in their adoption by other races.

Eco-Pessism - considers how decline theories are mirrored in the modern ecological and environmental movements. Notes how decline theories have become inclusive of the role of ecological destruction brought about by Western technology and capitalism. Explains the role of technopoly and the issue of an out of control Western science as seen in the writings of Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells. Explains the role of an ecological apocalypse and a "New Green Order" in the theories of Paul Erhlich concerning over-population and the imminent doom that followed and the Club of Rome. Notes the development of ecology as a science beginning with the theories of German thinker Ernst Haeckel and reflected in particular in the thought of other German thinkers including Wilhelm Ostwald, Hans Driesch, Konrad Lorenz, Ludwig Klages, and ultimately Martin Heidegger as well as the author D. H. Lawrence. Notes the prominence of such ecological theories as they were taken up by Murray Bookchin, Arne Nasse, and various Native American theorists as well as the New Left. Notes the role of ecological theories on the movements of Earth First! and their influence on the Unabomber Ted Kaczysnki. Notes the role of ecological theories on Jeremy Rifkin and Al Gore in his book _Earth in the Balance_ and his arguments for an ecological apocalypse brought about by man-made global warming. Finally explains the issue of the "end of man" and the ultimate influence of various Romantic and vitalist theories on ecological movements.

Afterward - reconsiders the various forms of decline theory and their influence on both the Western Right and Left. Explains for example how the theories of Spengler and Toynbee were reacted against by various thinkers who argued for a "rise of the West" and Western progress. Notes the role of American democracy and its earliest discovery by Toqueville. Explains how the Middle Ages were seen as a culmination of human experience by many decline theorists while they were replaced by an Enlightenment worldview. Explains how "gloomy" theories of Western decline can be replaced by optimistic theories of progress and civilization.

This book offers an interesting survey of the various decline theories as they have been expressed throughout Western history and culture. The book traces these theories from ancient times to the modern era. These theories were taken up in particular by German thinkers who then influenced various American thinkers and theorists. In particular, the author shows how these theories have played a unique role on both the Western Right and Left as well as the ecological and environmental movements. The author surveys this material quite well and provides much interesting discussion of the pessimistic view of Western history as contrasted with the theory of Western progress.

Arthur Herman is a detail person and has undertaken massive research to produce this book. I learned a great deal about the history of pessimistic thinking by "intellectuals" looking for ways to have thier governments take care of them and "solve" societies ills. When applied to today's "intellectuals" I learned that there really is not much new thinking going on. Difficult read, but worth the effort.

This book is a decent introduction to some of the most important trends of though on decline in the modern world. It is worth for that, as little else of what the author writes is coherent with these chapters. Basically, he believes that there is no real decline. His conservative liberalism is in constant conflict with the ideas he talks about, which in the end led me to think that he's unwillingly proving to be the wrong one.

This IS the bridge and road over the excrement left by modern Marxist and Leftist subpar interpretations of the philosophy of History over the past several decades. What we see here is a continuation of serious and in-depth survey of the classic philosophy of cultural decline. A. Herman acts as an agent of true analytic interpretation of the highest quality and up to the standards of any Classic writers covered in this book. Unlike modern Marxist and Leftist authors, A. Herman goes well beyond the one-dimensional viewpoint so common in Leftist literature. His writing is exceptional and his dealing with the issues is phenomenal. Surprisingly, the style that he writes in is easy to digest (unlike some of the philosophers own works covered in this book). To present what the thoughts (of the people covered in this book) and their line of thinking was ... AND, then, attack them on their own intellectual playing field is fantastic. Although, some reading is desired before reading this book, it is not a requirement. Thanks to the brilliant summary of the philosophy at hand by A. Herman. A great Renovator Writer (my tag for geniuses like this) and a great Anti-Decliner of Western Culture and Civilization. This will get you interested in more literature of this type and kind; steer away from the Marxist/Leftist BS and, remember, to get a true sense of the state of mind of a philosopher, go to the Source. Then tune it in with another author's interpretation of his/her philosophy that projects rather than distorts the philosopher's message.

Herman just close his eyes for many of the propphetic pessimistic insights that he criticizes.

The rich nations of the world are acting like ancient usurers, lending money to the desperate poor on terms that cannot possibly be met and, thus, steadily acquiring more and more control over the lives and assets of the poor.

But, are basic rights of human existence confined to those civilized societies wealthy enough to afford them? Everyone's values are defined by what they will tolerate when it is done to others.

Civilization is a movement and not a condition, a voyage and not a harbor. - Arnold Toynbee

I had hoped to find real insights from this book, but as soon as Herman started dropping McTerms such as "conspiracy theorist" and "anti-Semitism" it was impossible for me to take any of his points seriously.

I have never seen a book so full of factual errors as this one. There are better books out there on this subject - don't waste your money.

Incidentally, Herman is a well-known white supremacist. Potential customers should keep this in mind (even if they don't have a problem with it).